REVIEW: The Cruel Prince

THE CRUEL PRINCE

by Holly Black

Pages: 384

Publisher: Hot Key Books

Publication Date: 2nd January 2018

Received From: Hot Key Books

Of course I want to be like them. They're beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.
And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.
Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.
To win a place at the Court, she must defy him—and face the consequences.
In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

Holly Back's Tithe and Ironside are the books that started my love of YA Frey. They are full of danger, magic and lust that completely absorb you into the pages and when I heard Black was making a return trip to the land of Faerie I was beyond excited! The Cruel Prince is fast paced, magical, dangerous and all consuming. The characters are, in my opinion, some of the best she has ever created and the way humanity and power interlink throughout the story made this book unputdownable. 

The Cruel Prince is the first of a new series and it tells the story of an orphaned human girl, Jude, who finds herself right at the centre of the High Court of Faerie. Jude and her two sisters all adapted differently when their parents were brutally murdered by their now step-father and as the story unfolds it’s these differences that leads to Jude’s unlikely story. For you see, Jude has always wanted to be like the Frey. For Jude it was their strength and skill she admired and even though being human is seen as a weakness she was determined to prove she could be one of them. However, with a coronation around the corner, battles for power in play and a prince that can’t stand the sight of her, Jude has more to prove than ever before. 

Jude, for me, was the perfect protagonist! There was something about her that made you want to route for her even when you could see she was making all the wrong choices. She is one of those characters that has a bit of a chip on her shoulder (and rightly so) and finds herself needing to prove her worth to everyone around her. Her two sisters adapted differently to the world on the other side of the hill but it is Jude's need for acceptance from this world that makes her relatable. She is the quintessential outsider, the girl that will never fit in, never given a chance to be more than her preconceptions and that in itself makes her fight even harder. You can't help but adore her and for me that's what makes a YA protagonist special. 

The story itself was full of adventure and interlinking parts that keeps you on your toes from the very first to the very last page. Black never shies away from the brutal side of frey folklore and The Cruel Prince is no different. There were moments that made me wish she wasn’t so damn good as describing things but it is this grittiness mixed with the wonder of the Faerie world that entices the reader. This is one of those books were setting, storytelling, characters and that literary magic all come together to create something rather special.

Overall I adored this book. If I'm honest I was a little worried I had set my expectations too high but Black smashed it and I didn't want this story to end. It is full of peril, trickery, plotting, love and magic. It’s a tale of family value, royal hierarchy and a young girls need to be accepted. The Cruel Prince is Holly Black at her best and I'm dying to see what she has in store for us next. 

**I received this book as an ARC from Hot Key Books to read & review. This is a 100% honest review.**

BLOG TOUR: The Fandom

Q&A with Anna Day
author of The Fandom

What was the inspiration behind The Fandom?

You may already know this, but The Fandom combined two ideas. An idea by Angela McCann, in which a group of fans are transported into the world of their favorite story, and my own pre-existing novel entitled The Gallows Dance. So I feel like I need to break this question into two parts: the inspiration for my first novel, The Gallows Dance, and my inspiration for the final novel, The Fandom.

The Gallows Dance is a world in which mankind is divided into two camps, genetically enhanced, and non-genetically enhanced. This was inspired by my daughter’s birth. I just couldn’t bear the thought of her ever feeling not good enough, or feeling she had to change in order to be ‘perfect.’ I do feel our society is obsessed with perfection. We’re given a very narrow definition of beauty, and then pressured to adhere to it by altering our natural appearance. Often this is at a financial and more importantly, emotional, cost. There’s also huge pressure on young people to achieve at exams, and to be healthy, glowing citizens. This is obviously hugely damaging for people with Learning Disabilities and/or health issues. I wanted to highlight this obsession in my book. I guess I wanted to make the world a more accepting place for young people. I know a single book can’t change society, but you know, if it helps just one person feel more comfortable in their own skin, then I’m a happy lady!

The Gallows Dance was also inspired by my Psychology background. I’ve always been fascinated by group dynamics: the way one group lifts themselves up by shoving another group down. We’ve seen it throughout history, and it feels like we’re seeing it more now, and this breaks my heart. The way the genetically enhanced people subjugate and humiliate the non-genetically enhanced people was written to highlight this issue. Again, in the hope that raising awareness of an issue may help readers think and talk about it.

Which makes my book sound a bit soap boxy, but I really hope it isn’t!

The ‘fandom’ part of the book was obviously inspired by Angela McCann, as it was her idea. But during the actual plotting and writing of the book, I was just filled with my love of all things nerdy and fandom-ish. The world of the online fandom kind of passed me by due to my age, and the fact I was so focused on my career and family in my twenties and thirties. But I’ve always been obsessed with stories and bands and TV programmes. I have a list of embarrassing fandom stories. Just a taste: at ten, I painted a giant mural of Buddy Holly on my wall, it was terrifying, and in my early twenties, I held a Moulin Rouge mystery party, to which only four people came. So embracing all things fandom came so easily, and it was an absolute joy to indulge the part of myself who loves The Hunger Games andTwilight and Harry Potter.

Sorry, that was a long answer!

Who was your favourite character to write and why?

I loved all my characters, even Alice. But ultimately, it has to be Violet, the protagonist. I just connected with her so easily. Probably cos she reflects aspects of myself: she’s awkward, geeky and can’t climb trees, and she overthinks everything.

Do you belong to any fandoms and if so which ones?

The obvious ones, like Harry Potter and The Hunger Games, though I tend to dip in and out depending on how busy I am and how much I need them. I actually have my own little fandom with my dad. We are a fandom of two. We love all the same bands and music and sci-fi. And we both obsess over stuff.

 If you ended up the main protagonist in YOUR favourite book how do you think you would react/adapt?

Well now I’m a Mum I think I’d be the super-organized annoying character who problem solved, carried a clipboard and provided healthy snacks. So basically, imagine Hermione Granger and make her a little more nurturing and snack-obsessed, and that would be me. I flatter myself, I’m sure. But in my head, I would be a middle-aged Hermione dishing out carrot sticks! Bring on the Dementors, cos I’ve got stable blood sugars.

What are the most rewarding and most challenging parts of writing a book?

One of the most challenging parts for me is fitting it all in. I’m a single mum with two young children, and I work part time as a psychologist. It means sometimes I can feel like I rush things and haven’t given it my best, and that can be frustrating. Another challenging part is just that screaming anxiety that everyone is going to hate my writing. I manage it with distraction and denial and by listening to my mum when she tells me I’m the best!

The most rewarding part for me is the actual writing itself, I love pouring myself on to a page, and sitting back and feeling like I’ve really built something with words. Okay, that is an actual lie, the best thing is having lovely people telling me they like my book.

When reading The Fandom I felt that there was an emphasis on strong female leads. What do you think are the main qualities that makes a strong female protagonist?

This is such a good question. I think just making them human. So don’t make them too brave or selfless or clever. They should be filled with self-doubt and difficulties and broken bits like the rest of us. It makes them more believable, but more importantly, easier to relate to. And then, when they do something really brave or selfless or clever, there’s more of a character arc, and we, as readers, can think,maybe I could do that. The reason I loved writing Violet so much was she was a bit feeble, physically and emotionally, just like me!

Pages: 416

Publisher: Chicken House

Publication Date: January 2018

THE FANDOM

by Anna Day

Cosplay ready, Violet and her friends are at Comic-Con.

They can’t wait to meet the fandom of mega movie, The Gallows Dance. What they’re not expecting is to be catapulted by freak accident into their favourite world – for real. Fuelled by love, guilt and fear, can the friends put the plot back on track and get out? The fate of the story is in their hands ...

AMAZON UK | WATERSTONES | BOOK DEPOSITORY

 

Make sure you keep an eye out for all things Fandom this month as there are plenty of posts coming your way! Check out the rest of the tour on the pages bellow and I hope you enjoyed the Q&A with the awesome Anna Day!! Last but not least, if you haven't already, go pick up your copy of The Fandom now. 

#jointhefandom

If you haven't already check out my review of The Fandom HERE

REVIEW: The Fandom

THE FANDOM

by Anna Day

Pages: 416

Publisher: Chicken House

Publication Date: January 2018

Received From: Chicken House

Cosplay ready, Violet and her friends are at Comic-Con.

They can’t wait to meet the fandom of mega movie, The Gallows Dance. What they’re not expecting is to be catapulted by freak accident into their favourite world – for real. Fuelled by love, guilt and fear, can the friends put the plot back on track and get out? The fate of the story is in their hands ...

A fast-paced, genre-flipping YA fantasy adventure from a brand new author, writing in homage to the best YA fiction. 

Okay guys I'm so excited to FINALLY tell you all about this book! I read this last summer but due to its 2018 (how the hell are we in 2018 already!) release date I've had to hold back on telling you all about it and I have to say it is the hardest thing I have ever done!!! The Fandom instantly spoke to my inner nerd and from the second review copies started making the rounds I just knew I needed to read it. It is fasted paced, exhilarating, unique and so easy to read! From the second I picked it up I just didn't want to put it down.

The Fandom follows the story of a girl named Violet when her world gets turned upside down at comic-con. Violet, her two best friends Alice and Katie and her little brother Nate have been working on there cosplay for weeks and when they finally meet the leads of their favourite film, The Gallows Dance, they think the worst they have to expect is saying something silly. However, the room starts to shake and next thing they know they've found themselves in the middle of the world they've fangirled over. But as the old saying goes, be careful what you wish for, because in the heart of their new reality this group of teens will have to find a way to finish the story they keep interrupting. They will have to survive the hardships any protagonist would and most importantly make it to the end of the story without loosing themselves.

The story itself is a mix of The Wizard of Oz and The Hunger Games. It mixes that 'we're not in Kansas anymore' feel with a world destroyed by human greed. I don't want to say too much about the plot because it will spoil it but I will say that the juxtaposition of the main characters in this fantasy world had me hooked from the very first page. I think every fangirl (or boy) out there has imagined what it would be like to end up in your favourite book, TV show or film but when the dangers our beloved protagonists face aren't in our imagination anymore but chasing you down the dirty streets of a war torn London it might just loose its appeal.

As far as the characters go I'm completely and utterly in love with Violet! She is the epitome of every YA reader I know and the way in which she grows and adapts to this new world makes her all the more loveable. She's relatable and she messes up more times than you think she possibly could, but that makes her human. She isn't immune to the greed, lust or even the ambition to be more than she was back home and it is her journey that made this book for me. Then again, I've always got a bit of a soft spot for the underdog.

Overall this book surpassed expectations and was one of the most enjoyable reads of 2017 for me. It kept be on my toes from the very first page and had me crying for more by the very last. The characters were captivating, the plot was exciting and the overall concept of the book had me reevaluating what it would be like to be a part of some of my favourite stories. The Fandom has a special place in my heart now and for a debut I take my hat off to Anna! If you haven't yet, go get yourself a copy of The Fandom! You can thank me later!!!

**I received this book as an ARC from Chicken House to read & review. This is a 100% honest review.**

 I ADORED this book and I was lucky enough to get to do a Q&A with Anna which will be part of The Fandom blog tour starting on SUNDAY!! So be sure to check out all things Fandom on the blogs bellow and come on Tuesday 9th so see what Anna had to say!!

#jointhefandom

REVIEW: Demon Hunters

DEMON HUNTERS: TRINITY

by Olivia Chase

Pages: 240, paperback

Publisher: Hachette/Little, Brown Books

Publication Date: 8th of September

ISBN: 9780349002279
Received From:  Hachette

Summary 

For fans of Cassandra Clare, this kick-ass new series will keep you on the edge of your seat . . .With an occult detective for a dad, Diana's normal life has never been too normal. Uprooted by investigations, she finds herself on a long train journey to Edinburgh, sitting next to a boy who makes her heart melt. Or something melt. Anyway, she's melting. Maybe a new life in Scotland won't be so bad, after all?But when Di's recurring nightmares start to come true, her destiny changes for ever. After her dad goes missing, she becomes part of a Trinity of Demon Hunters. Along with her two new friends, she needs to face down death, rescue her dad and save their city. Because that's what Demon Hunters do, right?There's only one question left to answer: how do you kill a dead man?

Review

Where to start with this one? So this one isn't out for a couple more weeks but get it on your TBR lists now!!! I don't think I've read a book in a day in years but I just couldn't put this one down!! I needed to know what was going to happen and not even sleep was getting in the way of that! Chase's writing style flows effortlessly which made reading Demon Hunters: Trinity all the more enjoyable and the way she describes Edinburgh? Well lets just say I've already asked my parents if we can move there! 

Demon Hunters: Trinity is about a 16 year old girl moving to Scotland. Diana is originally a California girl but due to her Dad's ghost hunting career she moves more often than she would like. At the beginning of the book Di and her Dad move to Edinburgh on the hunt for more exciting supernatural occurrences but what they find is nothing like they imagine. I'm not sure even Jake Helsing has the equipment to tackle these demons. Days after arriving in the city Di discovers she is part of an ancient line of Demon Hunters and with her new friends, twins Vesta and Minerva, she will have to defeat a 400 old demon... I know, just the normal teenage stuff right? 

I'm going to start with the part I wasn't so sure about because I really want to get on with how much I loved this book! If you get told you are from a long line of demon hunters, no matter how right it might feel, don't you think you might be a little shocked? Well as shocked as Di was she got over it pretty fast and within a few hours was training to defeat the big baddy which to me just felt a little forced. I think I just needed a couple of days for the information to sink in, have her go about her business and then the twins could start pestering her and eventually she agrees to help... might have made it a little more believable to me. But that is just my opinion and there was an urgency to the who kill the demon thing to. 

Even with all the demons and stuff reading this book I was mentally packing my bags to move to Edinburg. Something about the way Chase writes it made me jealous of anyone who gets to call it home and I was half out the door by the time I had finished the book. The characters are well written, our main character Di is a perfect heroine by YA standards. She is eager to get stuck in, help and do her duty but at the same time frightened of what that means and most importantly not above making mistakes. Every good YA protagonist makes mistakes along the way, it's what makes them relatable.

Vesta and Minerva are amazing characters to read, there dynamic is effortless and I have a bit of a soft spot for Minerva, although saying that my favourite part by far is the relationship between Vesta and Sebastian! I mean if there is a reason to need a second book it is simply to find out if Seb grows a pair and asks her out!! I'm routing for you Sebby Boy!

All in all I really enjoyed this book, the characters are fun and eccentric, the setting is magical and endearing and the story arch makes it almost impossible to put down. I'm not really sure what more a book can offer other than that, well other than a great supernatural background and a villain that will make your skin crawl long after you stop reading. Which this book most certainly has! 

I personally can't wait for the second book, as I want to know what our trinity get up to next! 

**I received this book as an ARC from Hachette Children's Group to read & review. This is a 100% honest review.**

Review: RED QUEEN

RED QUEEN

by Victoria Aveyard

Pages: 383

Publisher: Orion

Publication Date: February 10th 2015  

ISBN: 9781409151173
Received From:  Orion

Summary 

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of

those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

Review

"From now until the end of your days, you must lie. Your life depends on it, little lightening girl." 

There is a reason everyone has been going crazy for this book! It’s a beautifully written, gripping hold of your attention from the first chapter and not let it go until you’re picking your jaw up off the floor as you turn the last page. It’s the perfect read for lovers of Divergent and The Hunger Games and it’s jam packed with plot twists that will make your head spin.

The overall concept of this book was fascinating to me. In a way it’s got a strong connect to the power struggle white and black people have had through history but with this it’s the insides that are different.  The half of the population with red blood are seen as less because of this and the Silver’s as the superior race because their silver blood gives them superhuman abilities. The whole book shows the struggle for equality in a way only a YA novel could. But is this world too far gone for change? Can the characters put their own desires to one side to help give Red’s a better way of life? Well you’re just going to have to read to find out aren’t you?

As well as the concept the characters in this book are so well crafted it’s hard not to fall in love with it. Mare, our strong female protagonist, is feisty and fuelled by her need for justice. In a situation where she should have no control Mare uses her new position as the future princess to try and save her family and friends from poverty. But in a world completely alien to her she needs to rely on people she doesn’t wholly trust. Silver people.

Then there are the boys. Okay this might be the only place this book falters. Do NOT get me wrong, it’s still epic but you all know how I feel about the YA love triangle. Although, this ones more of a YA Square!! All three boys are well written and Cal is hot as hell however, having three guys completely smitten with one character? A little over board in my opinion. But that’s just preference. Doesn’t take anything away from the book at all and it does actually add in some interesting plot changes.

Overall this book is exciting, heart breaking and has no problem shocking you into submission. It’s one of my favourite books of 2015 and I’m super excited to see what comes next. If you loved Divergent, The Hunger Games or Branded then go get this one already. You won’t regret it.

"The dawn is coming for you all" 

**I received this book as an ARC from Orion to read & review. This is a 100% honest review.**

GIVEAWAY

The lovely Lucy at Orion who sent me this book to review also gave me the chance to run a pretty damn epic giveaway for you lovely lot. I have a copy of the stunning RED QUEEN and a limited edition necklace to giveaway. 

UK & Ireland only 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Post: In A Handful Of Dust

Today I'm taking part in something VERY exciting. Here is my stop on the In A Handful Of Dust Blog Tour! Read on for all the information about this epic companion novel to Not A Drop To Drink as well as a guest post from the author herself, Mindy McGinnis AND a giveaway. 

Enjoy x

IN A HANDFUL OF DUST 

by Mindy McGinnis

Pages: 384

Publication Date: September 23, 2014

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

BUY

Amazon  ||  Barnes & Noble

Summary

The only thing bigger than the world is fear. Lucy’s life by the pond has always been full. She has water and friends, laughter and the love of her adoptive mother, Lynn, who has made sure that Lucy’s childhood was very different from her own. Yet it seems Lucy’s future is settled already—a house, a man, children, and a water source—and anything beyond their life by the pond is beyond reach. When disease burns through their community, the once life-saving water of the pond might be the source of what’s killing them now. Rumors of desalinization plants in California have lingered in Lynn’s mind, and the prospect of a “normal” life for Lucy sets the two of them on an epic journey west to face new dangers: hunger, mountains, deserts, betrayal, and the perils of a world so vast that Lucy fears she could be lost forever, only to disappear in a handful of dust. In this companion to Not a Drop to Drink, Mindy McGinnis thrillingly combines the heart-swelling hope of a journey, the challenges of establishing your own place in the world, and the gripping physical danger of nature in a futuristic frontier.

By Mindy McGinnis

Why Yes, Orwell Would Enjoy This

A lot of people ask me how I came up with the idea for NOT A DROP TO DRINK. The scary answer is that I watched a documentary. The scarier answer is that was in 2010, and here in 2014 all I have to do is turn on the news.

Yep. A scant four years after watching a documentary titled Blue Gold which sent me to the ceiling and spawned awkward ice-breaking conversations from yours truly, most people know exactly what I’m talking about whenever I use the word water, followed by the panic-inducing words like crisis, situation, or scarcity.

California is staring down a mega-drought that could last into the next generation. The Colorado River appears to be drying up and the Southwest is depreciating underwater aquifers at a rate that they can never recover from. And that’s all gleaned from one article.

Recently in my home state of Ohio, half a million people lost their water when poisonous algae in Lake Erie made theirs taps unsafe. Ohio residents drove across the Midwest to purchase water, filling their carts Michigan and turning around to drive over 200 miles back home. And in this case, the Wolverines let the Buckeyes have their water because they had some to spare.

But what if they didn’t?

That’s the world of NOT A DROP TO DRINK, and by extension, IN A HANDFUL OF DUST. A world where the one thing that you and every person you care for will die without in three days, is scarce.

Does that make you think twice about picking up the book?

Then you should probably skip the news, too.

 About Mindy

Mindy McGinnis is an assistant YA librarian who lives in Ohio and cans her own food. She graduated from Otterbein University magna cum laude with a BA in English Literature and Religion. Mindy has a pond in her back yard but has never shot anyone, as her morals tend to cloud her vision.

Website || Blog || Twitter || Facebook

Goodreads || Pinterest || Tumblr

GIVEAWAY!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule

Week One

9/15/2014- A Dream Within A Dream- Interview

9/16/2014- Once Upon a Twilight- Review

9/17/2014- Curling Up With A Good Book- Review

9/18/2014- Reading with ABC- Guest Post

9/19/2014- Addicted Readers- Interview

Week Two

9/22/2014- Library of a Book Witch- Review

9/23/2014- Fiction Fare- Review

9/24/2014- The YA's Nightstand- Guest Post

9/25/2014- Owl Always Be Reading- Guest Post

9/26/2014- Magical Urban Fantasy Reads- Interview