Tag #newrelease

Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson: ARC Review

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I was fortunate to receive an audiobook copy from the publisher and author through Netgalley in exchange for feedback and my honest review. These are my opinions, uninfluenced.

Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson is a standalone YA Fantasy, releasing on October 2nd 2021. Artemisia is training to be a Gray Sister, a nun who ferries the dead and prevents that from turning into vicious souls that kill the living. When her convent is attacked by possessed soldiers, Artemisia awakens an ancient spirit. Now, bound to the spirit, Artemisia begins to uncover a sinister mystery that could destroy everything and everyone. Without any options, Artemisia has to betray everything she knows by putting her faith in the spirit with the hopes that it doesn’t betray her first.

I loved Sorcery of Thorns so my excitement for this off the charts. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint.

Margaret Rogerson’s writing style shines in this. It’s captivating, honest and so brilliant.

Anxiety, trauma and PTSD play a really important role in Artemisia’s story. Because of the way these hard topics were handled, the story really resonated with me. I could feel Artemisia’s pain in everything she did. More than that, despite not living through what she had, I completely understood it. Through all of her actions, the little things and the big decisions, to the things she said (or even didn’t say), it was really easy to understand her. And what made her the way she was.

Artemisia was such a complex character, with layers and layers. I wish this was a series so I could see more of her. The development arc we did get in this story was a delight. I loved reading about her growth and would’ve enjoyed it even more if I could stay with her in more books.

I was really happy with the pacing for this. It’s fast paced and full of action. We’re constantly on the move and constantly fighting to survive. It was simply exhilarating. So much was packed into this without it overwhelming.

One thing that catch me by surprise, was the absence of romance. I completely adored the romance sub plot in Sorcery of Thorns so I simply expected it in this. But it wasn’t, which is probably a good thing. There is so much to this story that I don’t think there was room for more.

I can see how everyone wouldn’t be able to appreciate this, but I highly recommend giving it a go. Especially if you’re looking for a fast paced fantasy that is unlike what you’ve read before.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

House of Glass Hearts: ARC Review

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I was fortunate to receive an audiobook copy from the publisher and author through Netgalley in exchange for feedback and my honest review. These are my opinions, uninfluenced.

House of Glass Hearts by Leila Siddiqui is a unique magical realism story. One day, after her grandfather passes away, Maera wakes up with a greenhouse in her backyard. The greenhouse is supposed to be thousands of miles away and when her ammi doesn’t find that strange, Maera grows even more suspicious. Forced to confront her grandfather’s past, Maera investigates the greenhouse, only to find out that it may hold the key to uncovering what happened to her missing brother years ago.

This story was told in alternating point of views across a timeline. We follow Maera, in present day, and also see from her grandfather’s perspective from his youth days. This could potentially be confusing for readers, though I didn’t have any issues with it. I did find that at certain points, I only cared for one perspective and towards the end, I was more invested in Maera’s arc and not the past timeline.

The plot for this book is my favourite part. It’s twisted and brilliant. Full of culture, myths and wonder. There were some parts that I found jarring and confusing. I wished they had been better explained and more fleshed out but I still appreciated the concept.

I loved learning about Pakistani culture and there were some elements that I recognised. It felt real and relatable.

I did struggle with the pacing. For the first 60-70%, I wasn’t that invested. It started off slowly and there wasn’t much happening. After the 70% mark, the pacing really picked up. Like really. So much so, that some things happened too quickly.

There was a small romance sub plot, that for once, I didn’t care about. It didn’t add anything to the story for me. Maera has a crush on a boy named Rob, who she hasn’t interacted with in years. And suddenly he comes back into her life and this really intense romance is introduced out of the blue. There were some sentences that I just found strange. It pulled me out of the story. I can’t remember what the exact words were, but it involved ‘feasting her eyes’ on Rob.

The characters did feel a little flat, and one dimensional. With the exception of Shah Jehan. She was my favourite. I loved that we touched on women empowerment as she was so brave in such a ‘man’s world’.

The ending was incredible. I was really happy with how it wrapped up. This brought the book up in rating. It tied everything together and I liked how all the pieces that were set up through both timelines fell into piece. It was really satisfying.

I would recommend this for readers who enjoy historical fiction and stories full of culture. If you’re looking for a fast paced book, this probably isn’t for you.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
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Leila Siddiqui

Social Queue by Kay Kerr: ARC Review

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I was fortunate to receive an audiobook copy from the publisher and author through Netgalley in exchange for feedback and my honest review. These are my opinions, uninfluenced.

Social Queue by Kay Kerr is a young adult, contemporary novel releasing tomorrow! Zoe Kelly is finally done with High School, and she’s so over the bullying and autistic masking. With an internship at a media company, Zoe ends up writing an article on her non-existent dating life which ends up going viral. Turns out, Zoe had just been missing the signs. Now, with a list of contenders from her past, Zoe’s spun away in a ride full of confusing signals, old sparks and new articles.

This was such a heart warming and fun read. It definitely delivered what the synopsis sold.

I loved Zoe’s character and found it easy to root for her. I can quite easily get bored with monologues but I found Zoe’s thoughts pretty fun to follow. She was a refreshing and quirky character.

Zoe’s relationships with the people around her (beyond romance) was a delight to read. I loved getting to know her sister. I didn’t enjoy the romance as much as I had expected. It’s not to say, I didn’t like it, I just wasn’t that invested in. However, that didn’t diminish my enjoyment for the story, I still cared a lot about where Zoe’s story went.

I was really happy with how the social anxiety portion of this story was handled. It felt honest and authentic. Personally, this was such an insightful read. I haven’t read a young adult book with autism rep (mc) before, so I’m glad we’re getting more neurodiversity.

I really liked the writing style. It was easy to read and enjoy. There was a great balance of dialogue and monologue. There were some moments that tugged at my heart strings and did make me emotional. They were probably some of my favourites.

If you’re looking for a refreshing coming of age story that tugs at the heart, I highly recommend this one.

Rating: 4 out of 5.
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Book Depository
Kay Kerr

Books Perfect for Halloween

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Halloween isn’t too far away so here are eight books that I think will be perfect for October. There’s everything from ghosts to unreliable narrators.

Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson is a young adult, paranormal fantasy.

Artemisia is training to be a Gray Sister, a nun who cleanses the bodies of the deceased so that their souls can pass on; otherwise, they will rise as spirits with a ravenous hunger for the living. After awakening an ancient spirit, Artemisia unravels a sinister mystery of saints, secrets, and dark magic, her bond with the revenant grows. And when a hidden evil begins to surface, she discovers that facing this enemy might require her to betray everything she has been taught to believe—if the revenant doesn’t betray her first.

This has ghosts, do I need to say more?

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas was one of my favourite books that I read in August. When Yadriel summons the ghost of Julian Diaz who refuses to leave, Yadriel is forced to help him uncover the mystery of Julian’s death.

I can’t explain how good this book is. It is so much fun and hooks you in all the way to the end. The characters are so loveable and is perfect for Halloween.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness is one of my all time favourite reads.

At seven minutes past midnight, thirteen-year-old Conor wakes to find a monster outside his bedroom window. But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting – he’s been expecting the one from his nightmare, the nightmare he’s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments. The monster in his backyard is different. It’s ancient. And wild. And it wants something from Conor. Something terrible and dangerous. It wants the truth.

A darkly funny story about real and imagined monsters that will stay with you for a long time.

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa is a unique and dark story about Allison who survives by scavenging for food and her hatred for vampires. When she gets turned into one of them, Allie must pass for human as she joins a ragged group of pilgrims seeking a legend—a place that might have a cure for the disease that killed off most of civilization and created the rabids, the bloodthirsty creatures who threaten human and vampire alike.

I read this a long time ago and couldn’t get over how impressed I was by the more twisted take on vampires. This was fast, fun and hard to put down. I’ll be picking this up for a re-read in October and I recommend that you do too!

Bone Crier’s Moon by Kathryn Purdie is a fun, enemies to lovers book that has a heavy focus on friendship.

Ailesse and Sabine are best friends, they’re also bone criers – those with the sacred duty of helping the dead pass over. This responsibility comes with a sacrifice, they must kill their one true love.

Bastien’s father died at the hands of a bone crier and he’s determined to get revenge. Yet when he finally captures one, his vengeance will have to wait. Ailesse’s ritual has begun and now their fates are entwined—in life and in death.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater is unlike anything you’ve read before. It takes a little bit to get into it, but when you do, it’s so worth it.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, he is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys. For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

The Archived by Victoria Schwab is a haunting tale where the dead, called Histories, rest on shelves like books. Mac, is a keeper, responsible for making sure violent Histories don’t awaken and escape. When someone begins deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters, Mac has to piece together what remains, in order to prevent the Archive itself from crumbling and falling.

A few years ago, I was obsessed with The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin. This Halloween, you can be too.

Mara Dyer wakes up in a hospital with no memory about what happened the night her friends died – and she survived. As Mara falls apart, everything around her does too. People alive seem dead, and the dead seem alive.

This is psychological thriller is twisted, intriguing and an incredible ride. Be prepared to find a new book boyfriend to add to your favourites.

Do you have some books that you think are perfect for Halloween? Drop them in the comments. Will you be picking any of these up?

After the Ink Dries: Book Review

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After the Ink Dries by Cassie Gustafson is a young adult novel that released in July this year. Sixteen-year-old Erica Walker is a webcomic artist who wants to fit in at her affluent new high school. After a party, Erica wakes up half-clothed, and discovers words and names drawn in Sharpie in intimate places on her body—names belonging to Thomas’s lacrosse friends and his own. Told in alternating viewpoints, Erica seeks to uncover what happened while battling to keep evidence of her humiliation from leaking out, as Thomas grapples with his actions and who he thought he was. Woven throughout, illustrated graphic novel interstitials depict Erica’s alter ego superhero, Erica Strange, whose courage just might help Erica come through to the other side.

First of all, I’ve never read anything like this. The story alternates between the survivor’s pov and one of the perpetrator’s perspective – something I’ve never read before. This was a really unique idea that was executed really well.

This is not an easy read, but it’s one I encourage people to pick up (do check trigger warnings). This tackles assault in every aspect – the trauma, the guilt, the frustration. Reading about Erica was heartbreaking and angering. There were several points where I cried. Even a time, where I was so frustrated, I thought I was going to chuck my phone across my room.

Watching this unfold from Thomas’ perspective and seeing how the families of the perpetrators reacted, was interesting to the say the least. By no means was Thomas a character I liked or had sympathy for. But it was a really important perspective.

It reminded me how horrible high school could be for some and just how cruel teenagers could be.

The illustrations woven in through the story added another unique touch. They were so beautifully done by Emma Vieceli. They added another dimension to the book and were just as relevant as the writing.

I was really happy with the direction this book went in. The only thing that would’ve made it more satisfying would be a bit more closure – but I suspect that may have been the intention.

This is one that I highly recommend and will not stop talking about for a long time.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Own Your Period: ARC Review

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I was fortunate to receive an advanced reader’s copy from the publisher and author through Netgalley in exchange for feedback and my honest review. These are my opinions, uninfluenced.

Own Your Period by Chella Quint is a fact-filled guide to periods. It covers everything from the female anatomy, the bleaching properties of discharge, managing them to sustainability.

First of all, the illustrations were so cute and amazing. They were bursting with colour, and definitely engaging. Giovana Medeiros did such a great job.

This covered EVERYTHING. I was so impressed by how much it covered, and is such a dynamic, interesting way. Through out this entire guide, all I could think of was, how much easier puberty would’ve been with this. How much I wished I had read this when I was younger. There was so much I didn’t understand, and this would’ve answered all of my questions.

I was so surprised by the section on sustainability. I even learned a little something. I think this was definitely a great, informative step forward.

This was witty enough to keep you reading and interesting, but the humour didn’t overwhelm the information and its importance.

I read through some reviews, and found that a lot of people were unhappy with some of the topics broached and that some of it was too informative. I think, the whole point is to break some boundaries, and normalise these topics. Which is done well. As time goes on, younger kids are learning more and faster. But not always in the right ways, they stumble onto myths or information that may not be comfortable. Own Your Period provides a good way to manage how teens are accessing this information and to also debunk these myths.

If you know a younger girl, give this to them. This is a game changer. Even if you’re an adult, pick this up. I guarantee, you’ll learn something new, or at least feel a little more empowered, and comfortable in your skin.

Rating: 5 out of 5.
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Slanted and Disenchanted: ARC Review

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I was fortunate to receive an advanced reader’s copy from the publisher and author through Netgalley in exchange for feedback and my honest review. These are my opinions, uninfluenced.

Slanted and Disenchanted by Lisa Czarina Michaud is a young adult, coming of age story releasing on September 21st 2021. We follow Carla and Pete, two teenagers that are unsatisfied with their lives, as they start a rock band. Just before they’re set to begin their tour, a tragedy occurs, making them reconsider all of their choices.

I had to think about my feelings for this book for a few days. On one hand, this is a witty book that reads like a love letter to music. You can tell the author is really knowledgeable and passionate about music. On the other hand, I found it really hard to connect with the characters and the story just didn’t resonate with me. I’m not crazy into music, like the characters are, and I wonder if that’s where the issue was.

Everything about this book was honest. From the problems the characters had, to the awkward interactions. I think the coming-of-age aspect was handled and executed really well. From the language, to their thoughts and worries, all of it felt realistic for their age.

I won’t spoil the ‘tragedy’, but it wasn’t one I was expecting. I do think it was handled well. There were some emotional moments that touched me.

This is a witty book with some heartfelt moments but something in it failed to fully engage me. I think anyone who’s really into their music will enjoy this.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
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Anticipated Releases for the Rest of 2021

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We had the years biggest publication days this week and it got me really excited for some upcoming books.

The first book on my list is Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson. This comes out in October and I’m so lucky to have an arc for this. I’ll be picking it up in a few days and I’m so excited to share my thoughts.

I read A Sorcery of Thorns last month and completely fell in love with it so I have some really high expectations for this one.

Add to your TBR

Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber sounds magical. There are dangerous bargains, legends and the lengths people will go to for a happy ever after.

Add to your TBR

The blurb for All These Bodies by Kendare Blake has hooked me in.

Summer 1958—a string of murders plagues the Midwest. The victims are found in their cars and in their homes—even in their beds—their bodies drained, but with no blood anywhere.

September 19- the Carlson family is slaughtered in their Minnesota farmhouse, and the case gets its first lead: 15-year-old Marie Catherine Hale is found at the scene. She is covered in blood from head to toe, and at first she’s mistaken for a survivor. But not a drop of the blood is hers.

Michael Jensen, son of the local sheriff, yearns to become a journalist and escape his small-town. He never imagined that the biggest story in the country would fall into his lap, or that he would be pulled into the investigation, when Marie decides that he is the only one she will confess to.

As Marie recounts her version of the story, it falls to Michael to find the truth: What really happened the night that the Carlsons were killed? And how did one girl wind up in the middle of all these bodies?

Add to your TBR

I’ve read The Lunar Chronicles and Renegades series by Marissa Meyer so naturally I’m excited for her upcoming release, Gilded. I don’t believe that Marissa Meyer is capable of writing anything that I won’t fall in love with. Especially, if the cover is this stunning.

Add to your TBR

I loved A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown, so I’m counting down for the sequel, A Psalm of Storms and Silence. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

Add to your TBR

I don’t find myself reaching for sad books often, but there’s something about this one that intrigues me. I’m ready to get my heart broken. From what I remember, Julie’s boyfriend, Sam dies. As she misses him, she dials his phone, hoping to listen to his voicemail to hear his voice one more time. But Sam picks up, and suddenly Julie has another chance at goodbye.

The cover is so beautiful too. I’m so scared but excited for this.

Add to your TBR

I’ve read three books by Karen M. McManus and enjoyed all three so You’ll Be the Death of Me is another highly anticipated read. I love the title too. I don’t even know what this is about, but I’ll be pre-ordering it soon and that’s all that matters.

Add to your TBR

What are some books you’re excited for?

Before We Were Blue: ARC Review

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I was fortunate to receive an advanced reader’s copy from the publisher and author through Netgalley in exchange for feedback and my honest review. These are my opinions, uninfluenced.

Before We Were Blue by E. J. Schwartz is a young adult, Sapphic contemporary releasing on September 14th 2021. At a treatment centre for eating disorders, Shoshana and Rowan rely on their friendship to survive the drama of the treatment life. As the girls’ friendship develops into something more, their destructive tendencies force them to make a decision: their relationship or their recovery.

This was by no means, an easy read. In fact, I had to take a few breaks while reading this. However, I’m glad that it. This is an important story that needs to be told and read. E. J. Schwartz did not shy away from gritty parts of eating disorders. It’s the unadulterated truth. From what I’ve gathered from other reviews (from people with an ownvoices experience), the handling of eating disorders was done well. From someone who didn’t have a personal experience with it, I felt like I learnt a lot.

This is very much a character driven story. And the characters are flawed and complex. Shoshana isn’t hard to love, I was rooting for her the entire time. She’s definitely flawed, but I loved reading about her growth. Rowan, on the other hard, definitely takes time to get used to. Initially, I really didn’t like her. But the more you learn about her, the more you see why she is the way she is. The character development for both of these characters was done well.

I expected the LGBTQIA+ representation, but the asexual aspect surprised me. It’s not one I’ve read about much but I really enjoyed it.

So many hard topics are dealt with in this and I think they’re done well. I would recommend checking the content warnings because this deals with sexual assault and more. The only thing I found a little unsettling were some of the lines seemed very anti-Semitic. I don’t think I know enough to comment on this one though.

I loved the way the story ended, it was really satisfying but believable. It showed that recovery doesn’t look the same for everyone and it’s not always linear.

Because this is a character driven story, this felt quite slow. Since it deals with hard topics, I kept having to take frequent breaks. This is as a combination, made it hard to pick back up.

This is a really important and I highly recommend it for anyone that enjoys character driven story.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

How We Fall Apart by Katie Zhao: Book Review

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How We Fall Apart by Katie Zhao is a freshly released young adult, mystery thriller. Set at prestigious, Sinclair Prep, Nancy’s best friend, Jamie is missing and later, found dead. Things turn for the worse when Nancy and her friends are incriminated in Jamie’s murder by a social media presence called ‘The Proctor’. Someone out there knows all of their deepest, darkest secrets and if the world finds out, they’ll lose everything they’ve worked for.

If you read my August TBR post, you’ll know that I was hyped for this. Think Pretty Little Liars meets One of Us Is Lying but make it Asian American. What’s not to like? Turns out, a fair bit. Let’s start with what I did like.

I really enjoyed how we focused on the academic pressure in Asian societies. It felt very realistic and believable. The stress of having to be the best, the expectations of your parents and not wanting to waste their hardships of migrating to a Western country. I felt all of that.

This was a quick and fast read. It wasn’t something I read in one sitting, but even with the little bursts, I finished this quickly. The book is only around 300 pages, so it’s something you can get through easily. The writing also contributes to the ‘easy read’. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but I think younger ‘young adults’ will enjoy the writing.

The characters all felt like they had potential. Their morals and decision making were questionable at times making them very complex characters. However, we didn’t explore that very much. It was barely touched upon. Even Nancy, who we see the entire book from, didn’t feel that developed. I couldn’t tell you much about her except that she really wanted to excel.

The mystery aspect of this book wasn’t very mysterious. I predicted it from the start and I think it had been made too obvious. There weren’t any other suspects introduced that it could’ve been. There were no red herrings or twist and turns. The only thing that caught me off guard was the ‘how’. I may have to re-read to confirm this, and you can correct me if I’m wrong, but I couldn’t think of any hints or clues that were dropped to allude to the ‘how’.

I didn’t find the book to be very ‘thrilling’. The only part that had my heart even slightly racing was near the end, with the shorter chapters and countdown.

The whole idea of wanting to stop ‘The Proctor’ is to keep their secrets a secret because they’re so bad. The stakes were high and I was so here for it. However, every time a secret was dropped, there were no consequences. Like, everyone just moved on. After the first time that happened, I found myself less interested in what happened to the characters.

There were a few things that I didn’t find very realistic or believable in the story. First thing, what is it with these mass texts? Never, in my entire high school career have I received a mass text. Is this an American thing? The next thing was the police involvement – or lack there of. I kept waiting for police officers to step in or even do an interview with the ‘suspects aka the main characters’, but it never happened. Another thing that made it hard to believe this story. Last thing was the ending. I don’t even know what to say about that.

The story ends on a cliffhanger and I’m curious to see what happens in the next book. Hopefully, it improves. Currently undecided if I’ll be picking up the next book.

Overall, it wasn’t something I disliked. I was disappointed by it, but expectations aside, it was a decent read. I think those that enjoyed Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars will enjoy this. Ideal for younger readers or those new to reading mystery.

Rating: 3 out of 5.