Book Review: Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart

18th July 201824th September 2018 Lara5 Comments

Publication – July 31st, 2018.

Publisher – Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Genres – Young Adult & Fantasy.

In a world where women have no rights, sisters Serina and Nomi Tessaro face two very different fates: one in the palace, the other in prison.

Serina has been groomed her whole life to become a Grace–someone to stand by the heir to the throne as a shining, subjugated example of the perfect woman. But when her headstrong and rebellious younger sister, Nomi, catches the heir’s eye, it’s Serina who takes the fall for the dangerous secret that Nomi has been hiding.

Now trapped in a life she never wanted, Nomi has only one way to save Serina: surrender to her role as a Grace until she can use her position to release her sister. This is easier said than done. A traitor walks the halls of the palace, and deception lurks in every corner. But Serina is running out of time, imprisoned on an island where she must fight to the death to survive and one wrong move could cost her everything.

Book Review: Smoke in the Sun by Renee Ahdieh

11th June 201824th September 2018 Lara4 Comments

Publication – June 5th, 2018.

Publisher – G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Genres – Young Adult & Fantasy.

The highly anticipated sequel to Flame in the Mist—an addictive, sumptuous finale that will leave readers breathless from the bestselling author of The Wrath and the Dawn.

After Okami is captured in the Jukai forest, Mariko has no choice—to rescue him, she must return to Inako and face the dangers that have been waiting for her in the Heian Castle. She tricks her brother, Kenshin, and betrothed, Raiden, into thinking she was being held by the Black Clan against her will, playing the part of the dutiful bride-to-be to infiltrate the emperor’s ranks and uncover the truth behind the betrayal that almost left her dead.

With the wedding plans already underway, Mariko pretends to be consumed with her upcoming nuptials, all the while using her royal standing to peel back the layers of lies and deception surrounding the imperial court. But each secret she unfurls gives way to the next, ensnaring Mariko and Okami in a political scheme that threatens their honor, their love and very the safety of the empire.

Book Review: Bring Me Their Hearts by Sara Wolf

4th June 201824th September 2018 Lara6 Comments

Author – Sara Wolf

Publication – June 5th, 2018.

Publisher – Entangled: Teen

Genres – Young Adult & Fantasy.

Zera is a Heartless – the immortal, unageing soldier of a witch. Bound to the witch Nightsinger ever since she saved her from the bandits who murdered her family, Zera longs for freedom from the woods they hide in. With her heart in a jar under Nightsinger’s control, she serves the witch unquestioningly.

Until Nightsinger asks Zera for a Prince’s heart in exchange for her own, with one addendum; if she’s discovered infiltrating the court, Nightsinger will destroy her heart rather than see her tortured by the witch-hating nobles.

Crown Prince Lucien d’Malvane hates the royal court as much as it loves him – every tutor too afraid to correct him and every girl jockeying for a place at his darkly handsome side. No one can challenge him – until the arrival of Lady Zera. She’s inelegant, smart-mouthed, carefree, and out for his blood. The Prince’s honor has him quickly aiming for her throat.

So begins a game of cat and mouse between a girl with nothing to lose and a boy who has it all.

Winner takes the loser’s heart.

Literally.

Zera is a three years old Heartless. WHat is a Heartless? I think it some kind of vampirism because the Heartless thrive on raw meat to keep their sanity in check, for if they don’t eat regularly they become raving mad bloodthirsty monsters.

Book Review: It Only Happens in the Movies by Holly Bourne

8th January 201824th September 2018 Lara3 Comments

Book: It Only Happens in the Movies

Author: Holly Bourne

Publication: October 1st, 2017.

Publisher: Usborne Publishing

Blurb: Audrey is over romance. Since her parents’ relationship imploded her mother’s been catatonic, so she takes a cinema job to get out of the house. But there she meets wannabe film-maker, Harry. Nobody expects Audrey and Harry to fall in love as hard and fast as they do. But that doesn’t mean things are easy. Because real love isn’t like the movies…

The greatest love story ever told doesn’t feature kissing in the snow or racing to airports. It features pain and confusion and hope and wonder and a ban on cheesy clichés. Oh, and zombies… YA star Holly Bourne tackles real love in this hugely funny and poignant novel.

It Only Happens in the Movies is a really interesting book, my first by Holly Bourne. The title says it all, what the book is going to entail, a realistic approach to how most movie romances are fictitious, dangerous and rarely ever happens that way in reality.Read More »