The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds #1) by Alexandra Bracken

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Genre: Young Adult Dystopian, Paranormal/Sci-Fi
Rating: *****

The Darkest Minds follows the story of Ruby, a now sixteen-year-old girl who's life changed dramatically when she was ten. Unsure of what happened, her ten-year-old self is dragged away from her home and thrust into Thurmond, a place that is eerily similar to the concentration camps of World War Two. However, with the younger generation mysteriously succumbing to various illnesses, and in one case actually dying, the reader is immediately left with questions that can only be answered by reading the series.

I found the book compelling. It had been a long overdue read since fellow blogger and longtime friend, Louise of Reading the Riot Act, recommended the book to me almost two years ago. Yet, it was only after reading Bracken's newest novel, Passengers, that I felt as if I wanted to finally read more of her writing, and the book that had been raved about everywhere.

It's different. I found myself thinking of Yancey's Fifth Wave through how certain elements of the dystropian world were presented to the reader. However, don't confuse the two books as similar. They're completely different and just amazing in their own right.

I find that the more I try and tell you why you should read it, the more I have to stop myself due to the issue of spoilers. That being said, I believe you should all go to the library, or just buy the book and decide for yourself how beautiful this book truly is.

The Darkest Minds can be purchased from Amazon UK now.

Warrior Witch (The Malediction Trilogy #3) by Danielle L. Jenson

Published by: Angry Robot

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, YA, Romance.

Tagline: Sometimes, one must become the unimaginable

Rating: ****

Warrior Witch picks up from the events of Hidden Huntress with a bang. Okay not literally, but you get the point. We're inserted back into the narratives of Cecile and Tristan, something that started in the second book, and it is hard to describe how this book made me feel. It's the last book. Kept continuously on my toes, I tried to force myself to finish this book in the brief slow parts, but when I was past them, then it was straight forward and easy going. 

We start with Cecile who's desperately trying to save the people of Trollus and of course, her husband. She's strong and fierce in one moment, and vulnerable the next. A perfect queen, even if she doesn't know it yet. Tristan on the otherhand comes across as a right pain. There's something about the gap between the books that has made me grow to dislike him. 

However. it's a good ending. A bit different, but good.

You can buy Warrior Witch from Amazon UK now.

Snow Like Ashes (Snow Like Ashes #1) by Sara Raasch

Published by: Balzer + Bray

Genre: YA Fantasy, YA, Magic

Rating: *****

This has got to be a book that has gathered dust on my shelf for over four months. I never touched it except to move over books around, it just stayed there looking rather wistfully at me as I chose other books. However, this has changed!

Snow Like Ashes is the first book in an exciting series about a fantastical world that follows the life of orphaned Meira. Meira has always known her status as an orphan to mean she is nothing, she desperately tries to prove her worth by becoming a soldier and anything she can to help her longtime love, and King, Mather.

Yet there's a twist. As always there's a bloody twist. Meira's world is based on the seasons. Her race is Winter, a place that has been destroyed and taken over in a war that has cost their population to decrease severely. But there's a tonne of secrets that if I even tried hinting at, I would definitely spoil this for everyone, therefore, I will remain silent.

It's an exciting book that echoes Game of Thrones and Throne of Glass (seriously it does!). I was swept away in the way that Raasch writes. Completely blew me away this book, and now I've just got to finish the second in hopes that it'll be just as good, or even better.

You can buy Snow Like Ashes from Amazon

Race Girl (The Go Girls Chronicle #3) by Leigh Hutton

Race Girl (The Go Girls Chronicle #3) by Leigh Hutton

Published by: Port Campbell Press

Genre: YA Contemporary, Sports, Equestrian

Rating: ***

This has got to be a really weird book to review purely because of how it varies between being really good and quite blah. Of course, that can be because I might not be the intended target audience of the story (it's clearly meant for a younger audience). 

However, the story follows the life of Tully Athens and her endeavor to be like her idol, the great Michelle Payne. But there is a problem. Her family farm is no longer able to afford the basic luxuries that come with racing. Yet there is another issue. How can Tully ride when her mother only just died from a racing incident? 

My honest view of this was how amazing the story was at first. It was only until the middle of the novel that the novel took a nosedive into a ridiculous tale that made no sense at all. I could not, for the life of me, wrap my head around the many different plot twists introduced in the last 100 pages or so.

Therefore, I end my review with a link to buy the book from Amazon.

Truthwitch (The Witchlands #1) by Susan Dennard

Truthwitch (The Witchlands #1) by Susan Dennard

Published by: Tor

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Rating: four star

I absolutely love this book but I felt that there were moments that I wasn't too sure it deserved a five star rating. But I requested this, read it and then ordered the book so that means something right? Alright so I buy almost every book I review in a physical copy because I need to start my library somehow. You didn't come here to read that though so let's get to the review.

Dennard strikes rich in this book. She's created another fantastic series (Dennard wrote the highly successful Something Strange and Deadly Series) that has strong and impressionable female leads who make you laugh, smile and wish you could be them (minus the trouble of course). I was positioned to like both female characters, a rare thing but it was done so cleverly, and from there my life changed.

I was taken by the world in which they live in, their powers and how they came across using them. Safi and Iseult are very down to Earth, even Safi who is an aristocrat (not that you could tell). It was a very real and gritty tale that kept me on the tip of my toes as I tried to guess what the ending might be (a hint is that it is brilliant). But in the end I just went along with these two different women and rejoiced in the friendship they had. It was nice to see a bigger picture than two friends trying to escape the badguys and their futures.

I cannot wait for the next book. A huge thank you to Tor for letting me read this before the release date!!

Truthwitch can be bought from Amazon US and Amazon UK now.

Unrivaled (Beautiful Idols #1) by Alyson Noel

Unrivaled (Beautiful Idols #1) by Alyson Noel

Published by: Katherine Tegen

Genre: Young Adult Romance, Young Adult Contemporary

Tagline: Welcome to the party

Rating:****

The book follows a few characters on their endeavour to win a competition. Through this, the reader encounters the mean ad celebrity filled streets of Los Angeles and there's a mystery/thriller as a famous actress goes missing.

So my main thoughts of this book was how much I wasn't sure if I didn't like it or not. Torn between wanting to stop reading it for fear of losing my sanity - it got to the point I was contemplating trying it later, or continuing it so I might just discover what the hell was going on.

However things did pick up. Thank god for that! But the sad news was that it picked up too late. For me, I became interested as the novel ended because that was when the true thriller/mystery aspect kicked in.

(A free copy was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley.)


Unrivalled can be purchased from all retailers, or on Amazon UK now.

Join Up (Island trilogy #3) by Tudor Robins

Join Up (Island trilogy #3) by Tudor Robins

Published by: the author

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary

Rating: Five Stars

A huge thank you to Tudor for letting me have an advance copy

I cannot believe the series is over. Cue the tissues because I absolutely adored this book and the series. Having told Ms Robins that her books are amazing and inspired me, I think this book is further evidence that horsey books need to be out in the world more.

Join Up concludes Lacey's life as she leaves the island and all it's inhabitants to spend the summer earning money for college and maybe discovering more about herself. The camp is for kids who want to learn more about horses, to have an experience of actually owning one for a few weeks without the responsibility of forever keeping one. It's a magical thing these camps. But Lacey takes it in her stride as she teaches her students and keeps up connections to the island. 

But things change. Life changes us all. Lacey meets someone who could potentially replace Jared in her heart and he might have four legs. Of course she finds another horse. He doesn't hold a flame to Salem but there's definitely something between him and Lacey that keeps her coming back for more and more. 

It's a weird situation I'm in. I want to say so much more about the book but I can't without spoiling the end. All I can say is that this is the series you need to read if you love horses. 

Join Up is available for purchase at Amazon UK and Amazon US.

The Orphan Queen (The Orphan Queen #1) by Jodi Meadows

The Orphan Queen (The Orphan Queen #1) by Jodi Meadows

Published by: Katherine Tegan Books (yay!)

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Rating:****1/2

Wilhelmina is a princess of a fallen kingdom. It fell during an invasion by the Indigo kingdom where Wil lost her parents and ran away to watch and plot from afar, her climb back to the throne. Hiding away in the Indigo kingdom, Wil is leader of a pack of thieves and orphans who she cares for and asks to aid her.

At a chance opportunity, Wil and best friend/fellow thief Melanie hide away in the castle under the guise of migrants seeking aid. Using the time to map out the kingdom and to work out a plan to get her kingdom back, Wil is literally on her own and becomes half the princess she is. Truly in the moment she is dressed as she should have been, she becomes this wise and strong leader that gives the reader faith that the sequel will be strong and amazing.

I'd write more but I'd probably drop more spoilers than describing the book. However one thing I have always stood by is that if  a book was published by Kathering Tegan, then it is amazing. Her imprint is almost always publishing captivating and thrilling books that make readers stop and think a little whilst sending them away to other worlds to be blown away.

The Orphan Queen is out now and is available from Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Sea of Stars (Kricket #2) By Amy A. Bartol

Sea of Stars (Kricket #2) By Amy A. Bartol

Published by: 47North

Genre:Paranormal Romance, Sci-Fi, YA/NA

A huge thank you to 47North for letting me read this wonderful book.

Sea of Stars is a fantastic sequel. Most books following such a fantastic first are often rushed or boring because the author takes time to setup for the next or the final. Sea of Stars made me very happy as I was literally continuing on Krickets big adventure.

Following on from Under Different Stars, Kricket is evolving into a true citizen of Rafe and has so far denied most of her Alameedian heritage. Thankfully most of the bad stuff that happened to her in the first isn't over. She's getting stronger and we find out more about those abilities of hers.

War is happening. But it's a classic case of Cassandra with Kricket. You feel awful but understand why the Rafians react like that. It's just a very weird place the reader is placed in but we're completely aware of all sides to the story at that moment.

I admit I skipped a few pages on this book. I got a little bored with all the romance drama between the Alameedian guy (literally cannot remember his name right now) but I was more annoyed with the face she did nothing but run away or be rescued. Yes I know women on Rafe don't fight or anything but surely she could have been allowed to do something remotely active.

I think this is the end of my review for now. When I've read the third and final installment, I might change things a little on here.

Otherwise, Sea of Stars can be bought from Amazon UK or Amazon US,

Dorothy Must Die (Dorothy Must Die #1) by Danielle Paige

Dorothy Must Die (Dorothy Must Die #1) by Danielle Paige

Published by: Harpercollins

Genre: YA, YA Retellings, Fantasy

A magical return to Oz with a twist.

Amy Gumm is just another trailer park girl from Kansas. She's wears charity shop clothes, her mother steals money from her and she's basically friendless. But a tornado comes and takes her from present day Kansas and into the magical world of Oz that isn't so magical anymore. 

Oz nowadays is very different from the sunshine and rainbows when Dorothy went there. Now Dorothy has become a malevolent force, she's sucking the land dry of it's magic.

So you might ask what Amy has to do with this?

Well the title says it all...

--

I found the book on a first read to be a disaster. I didn't get past the first three chapters and just couldn't bring myself to like it. However I recently reread the book and loved it.

Just goes to show that if you dislike a book at first, you might like it months later because we're constantly shifting our likes and dislikes. I'm a strong believer in giving some books a second read and this was a perfect example of this.

Amy Gumm is a bit annoying at first, you don't pity her which is fantastic. Most authors want you to pity their protag but Paige made Amy stand out more this way. I loved how the story developed and became more and more thrilling. I just ended up devouring the book on my way home, and then rushing out the next day for the sequel.

Dorothy Must Die can be bought from Amazon UK and Amazon US now.

The Fixer (The Fixer #1) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The Fixer (The Fixer #1) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Published by: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Genre: Young adult thriller, contemporary, crime (almost)

Tagline: Any problem can be fixed for a price.

Sold as Scandal meets Veronica Mars, I was immediately intrigued by this book. And I have to say it was absolutely amazing! I'm a huge Scandal fan so reading this felt like one of those episodes and left me wanting absolutely more.

The Fixer focuses on teenage protagonist Tess Kendrick whose parents are dead. She lives with her grandfather on a ranch away from the hustle and bustle of Washington D.C. However this all changes when her sister manages to get her to move into the city and places her into a new world of politics and typical rich people problems as Scandal does. Yet as she starts at the fancy school for children of the higher up, she discovers she has a gift just like her sister.

Ivy Kendrick is a fixer. She finds and solves problems for the politicians, royals etc. She's a younger Olivia Pope in all simpleness. Tess and Ivy are typical sisters who have grown apart. There's a lot of tension between the two as expected but Jennifer Lynn Barnes makes it work. Okay so she makes it very natural and not at all over the top as some authors do.

But then there's that little problem. There's a theory that a death wasn't just a death and Tess copies her sister and delves into it headfirst whilst tackling school, family secrets and possible romance. She's not just any schoolgirl, she's a fixer like Ivy.

------
My overall opinion?

I absolutely bloody loved this book. Devoured in less than two days,  I found myself hooked on every word as the storyline developed into a fascinating and amazing storyline. I gasped and gripped my kindle throughout the shocking moments, the parts where I wanted to scream at the book and even when I was super happy about everything and nothing.

Tess Kendrick is an amazing protagonist. A strong female lead that we need more of in books targetted for young audiences!

***

The Fixer is available in hardback via Amazon UK with the paperback available from May 2016 but in the states it is available now.

Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke (Prisoner of Night and Fog #2) by Anne Blankman

Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke (Prisoner of Night and Fog #2) by Anne Blankman

Published by: Balzer + Bray
Genre: Young Adult, Historical fiction

As a sequel I wasn't too sure about reading this. Mainly because of the topic and that I didn't know whether it would stand up to how amazing the first book was. However it was much much more thrilling. 

Gretchen and Daniel have been living in England, their lives so different to the ones in Germany but on Gretchen's birthday, a telegram arrives. Daniel leaves and heads back to the place the story started. Hitler's Germany.  Gretchen follows him, after recieving some money from her adoptive English family (who are super kind) and has to avoid friends, family and enemies as she tries to track Daniel down. The worst part? She sees the ones she loves, cares for get taken away by the SA/SS/police. It's a horrific thing to even imagine, let alone read. I hold a big amount of respect to Anne Blankman.

As a historical fiction aimed for young adult, I can't express how happy I was to read such a well-researched and compelling series. I was blown away by how Blankman managed to write about such a horrific time and by writing from a different perspective as well. 

Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke can be bought from Waterstones, Amazon UK  and Amazon US

Remember by Shannon Dermott

Remember by Shannon Dermott

Published by: Wicked Truth Publishing

Genre: Young Adult. Fantasy, Romance

Tagline: Things hide in the shadows because of what's revealed in the light

I recieved this arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm conflicted over whether or not I like this book. 

I've read a few of Shannon Dermott's novels and I've just been as equally conflicted. But in Remember I felt as if the love triangle/square. whatever you want to call it, was really ridiculous and took priority over explaining what the hell was going on and why these guys were suddenly all over the protagonist.

I didn't actually finish the book. I lost interest and then tried to pick back up (hence the lateness of posting this) but maybe another day I might try and reread this and the  understand it.

But what I did really like was the attention to detail, how Demott became a teenager. I really really liked that! Everyone knows being a teenager is really awful, you're old enough to have responsibilities but too young to actually do what you want to do, so add to the mix a small town and that is our protagonist everyone. She's quite nerdy, but it's not like push up the big black framed glasses, it's subtle. Baggy shirts, marvel logoed shirts etc.

Yet that is then changed, Charlie or Charlize (super nice name!) starts to make an effort. Baggy shirts get a little tighter or fitted. She even buys a skirt at one point but it's part of the transition. Everyone goes through the stage of wanting to change up their style and to shed that awkward stage and I think Charlie does it well, okay maybe a little too over the top. But she's an alright kid.

A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses #1) by Sarah J Maas

A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses #1) by Sarah J Maas

The cover is just beautiful! I managed to get a signed copy though which is amazing!

Published by: Bloomsbury

Genre: Young Adult fantasy, YA Romance, Fantasy

I am always blown away by Sarah J Maas. Always. 

She doesn't disappoint at all. My immediate throughts upon starting the novel was that it was a wee bit slow but then as I was literally sucked into the Fae world limb by limb, I understood why she did it. 

The story is about Feyre (Yes is sounds very alike faery) and the consequences of her hunting to save her family for starving. It's a typical girl must grow up to keep her family alive, a rather sad one but Feyre makes it work or should I say Mrs Maas. 

But as the story unfolds, we are introduced as usual per Sarah's books, to amazing characters such as the handsome Tamsin who comes with a dark and secretive past/curse and his companion. 

Yes our dear protagonist is sent to live in fae land where everything at first seems to good to be true but as she gets comfortable (or as comfy as one can be), she soon finds out nothing is as it seems.

I really want to write a lot more but I fear that I will spoil this book and I can't bring myself to because it is such a fantastic book!! 

A Court of Thorns and Roses can be found signed in some Waterstones stores (UK only) or online at Waterstones or on Amazon UK or Amazon US

Partials (The Partials Sequence #1) by Dan Wells

Partials (The Partials Sequence #1) by Dan Wells

Published by: Balzer + Bray

Genre: Young Adult dystopian, sci-fi

Tagline: The Only Hope for Humanity isn't Human

I only got through  18% of the book before I closed down the app and stared out the window for the remainder of my journey into Manchester from where I live.

The book follows the aftermath of some sort of virus that prevents babies from living after a set amount of days and so the youngest member of the area they reside in is 13 maybe 14 years old which is slightly worrying. However that's not the weirdest part, that comes when the reader discovers all females from the age of sixteen must try to become pregnant which rings the freaky alarm bell loud and clear. 

Therefore Kira who I assume to be the protagonist goes about her days as a medical intern and whatnot. I didn't get far enough to be bothered to learn more about her. She's kinda meh in all fairness. What happened to badass female characters in a dystopian world? But she's got a love interest *sigh*. I honestly could not care what happened to her, I was just annoyed that I had spent time wasted on the book I thought would be amazing. 

The book can be bought on Amazon UK here, Waterstones here and on Amazon US here

Perfect Ruin (The Internment Chronicles #1) by Lauren DeStefano

Perfect Ruin (The Internment Chronicles #1) by Lauren DeStefano

Published by: Simon and Schuster for Young Readers

Genre: YA dystopia, romance, sci-fi/fantasy

As a reader of the Chemical Garden trilogy I immediately thought this book would be alike in theme and style. Don't get me wrong it is but for some reason I didn't feel as if this as good. 

The book follows the life of Morgan Stockhour whose father is a policeman, her brother disabled and her mother who takes time to nap and take pills. However there's a twist. They don't live on the Earth as we know it. Instead they live on Interment which is like Jack and the Beanstalk (A castle in the sky except instead of a castle it's land). Noone goes up nor down. Therefore the few who do decide to go to the edge go a little mad (Morgan's brother was one of them) or get hurt. 

We all know curiousity can get the best of us and Morgan's guilty of doing just that. She constantly thinks about the edge and a life outside of Internment but there's so much at stake here. She's betrothed to fellow classmate Basil (who's a darling but I had a feeling something wasn't right about him) and best friends with artist and lover of Interment Pen. All in all it's a fantastic idea, I do love the concept but maybe I'm not the right audience for it now.

I'll probably reread this in a year or so.

As Red As Blood (Limukki Andersson #1) by Salla Simukka

As Red As Blood (Limukki Andersson #1)  by Salla Simukka 

Published by: Skyscape

Genre:YA romance, Fairy tale retelling

What could I possibly say about this book?

I think it was a retelling of Snow White as her name means that but otherwise I was incredibly lost. 

The books rather stereotypical russian gangster/mob crossed with what feels like another separate story but when the two stories mix, it's just highly confusing. Lumikki isn't anything alike Snow White in looks. The reader gets the impression she's a loner but then is told she's fantastic at blending into crowds etc. It's weird. I didn't understand half the book, I just read blindly in hopes it would make sense at the end.... It didn't. 

Rein It In (The A Circuit #4) by Georgina Bloomberg and Catherine Hapka

Rein It In (The A Circuit #4) by Georgina Bloomberg and Catherine Hapka

Published by: Bloomsbury USA childrens
Genre: Young Adult, horses, romance

The fourth (and last?) in the A Circuit series continues on from the series I've come to love. This time the girls are about the compete in the "Indoors" which are a series of competitions that will add to their rankings as riders. All three girls, Zara, Tommi and Kate are all on a high of some sort where they're just sold an expensive horse (Tommi), still in love (kate) and just surviving (Zara). 

I can't say much as there isn't much that happens in the novel that would make sense without reading the rest of the series. However the fact I searched for this book for a long time meant that when I had the physical copy in my hands, I almost cried in joy. For UK readers to enjoy this series, I reccommend Ebay as that was where I could grab my copy without extortionate shipping prices and more. 

Unfortunately it was fantastic and ended on an almost cliffhanger that makes me yearn for a fifth and possibly a sixth... However I am satisfied (partially) that the characters managed to get some form of a life together and would be able to live on. 

The book can be found here and for sale in the US here

The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent

The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent

What possibly could I say to get you to read this book?

How about the fact that it's from the author of amazing series such as Shifters and Soul Screamers? If that doesn't work then maybe this review might. 

The book inserts the reader into an almost apocalyptic world, I had the feeling I was stuck in the last of Us world minus the zombies and a bit more civilised and noone wanting to kill you. However you get the gist of everything Vincent wants you to get and more. The characters are wonderful, very easy to get, understand and relate to whilst being entertaining and clearly able to be envisioned in your mind. 

I was blown away by this book. I only finished it last night and I couldn't even sit down and read some other arcs. That is very rare. 

The Stars Never Rise is out June 18th 2015 and should be available at most bookstores in the UK.

Go buy this book because it's amazing!!

Belles (Belles #1) by Jen Calonita

Belles (Belles #1) by Jen Calonita

It turns out that as the seasons change, I end up reading more of the general romance books in the warmer weather and in the cold seasons I read murder, crime and more grisly things. Belles is a novel (first in a series) about Isabelle Scott, a talented individual who lives in the bad part of town. She's then plucked from her life and placed with relatives who don't need anything really, they have it all.

But as the story unfolds, the reader is placed in the front of the stage watching as trivial teenage girls fight over nothing and then realise it's everything. It teaches younger readers to be aware of wrong and right. ya