Category YA

The Ice Angel by Misha Herwin @MishaHerwin #fantasy #fiction #youngadult #publicationday #bookreview

yvonnembee 1 Comment

I am delighted to share my review today for The Ice Angel by Misha Herwin. This is the 6th book in the Letty Parker series and it is fabulous, to be honest, the whole series is fabulous.

I would like to thank the author for sending me the latest copy of her book for me to review. My opinion is my own and unbiased. I would also like to wish Misha a very Happy Publication Day 🙂

A frantic message from her absent Ma sets Letty on a perilous course to the northern lands, pursued every step of the way by vengeful Dark Ones. Once again her life is in danger – except that this time even Gabriel seems to have deserted her. Marooned and alone, in a land of ice and snow that is ruled by the cold and callous Ice Angel, Letty must rely on her wits and courage to survive. In Bristol, her fellow investigators at Letty Parker & Associates have problems of their own as Hepzibah battles Mr Murkstone, her sinister new guardian, for control of both her business and her beloved Aunt. Hepzibah’s entire world could be lost as she joins forces with Jeb and Mango in a desperate race to foil Mr Murkstone’s evil plans. Two friends a continent apart – both fighting the Dark Ones with everything at stake and so little time left to succeed.

MY REVIEW

This is the 6th book in this series and it is another absolutely fabulous story. This series is aimed at Young Adults, but Older Adult adores it. A mix of fantasy, mystery, action and adventure.

Letty Parher & Associates is a group that investigates mysteries and they have had some corkers over the previous books. This latest one though takes the danger up a notch as the Dark Ones have more of a sinister role to play.

Letty is sent a message that her mother needs help, this will involve her sailing to another country. Meanwhile, Hepzibah has her own troubles with her Aunt as a stranger seems to have got his foot well and truly in the door, and his nose into Hepzibah’s family business.

With the help of Mango, Jeb and others the group are trying their hardest to discover what exactly is going on. With the investigating teens split between two countries and with forces that they still need to understand, they certainly have their work cut out for them.

From the outset this book is action-packed, there are quick re-caps where necessary but the story flows from the first page right through. The Bristol of the author’s stories is one that has a whole range of creatures lurking, skulking and generally being a nuisance. There are also friendlies such as the dragons, Bears and a certain Gabriel.

The story flows back and forth from one case to the other, filling in important information and keeping up a breakneck pace. If you have read any of these books then you will be aware of the various phrases and characters, they are still around and more villains have been brought in. Such as the Ice Angel!

Having read and loved each of the books, this one is another fabulous episode. Full of drama, tension, danger, slinking, lurking and creeping. I know that young adult readers who pick this series up will enjoy it as much as I have. This is another book I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Misha Herwin is a writer of books for adults and children.
They vary from time-slip to contemporary women’s fiction, family saga and children’s fantasy adventures.
All her books are set in Bristol, whether real, imaginary or remembered from her childhood.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

The Whispering Skull by Jonathan Stroud #fantasy #fiction #youngadult #mystery #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for The Whispering Skull by Jonathan Stroud. This is the 2nd book in the Lockwood and Co series and it is a fabulous follow-up for this Young Adult fantasy series.

When the dead return to haunt the living, Lockwood & Co. step in.

A series of grisly thefts have been taking place across the capital: powerful supernatural artefacts have been stolen, and their warders murdered. In an atmosphere of mounting panic, a mysterious skull in an iron box is unearthed in Kensal Green Cemetery.

Witnesses hear it whispering urgently, but the words cannot be understood. Lockwood & Co. will have to use all their ingenuity and skill to uncover the secret of the whispering skull.

MY REVIEW

Having read the first book not so long ago, I decided it was time to continue with the second book. I have been told that the Netflix series is good but to be honest I am enjoying the books so I won’t probably watch the series.

As this second book gets off to a great start. Things have been slightly easier for Lockwood & Co when it comes to getting cases to solve and therefore being paid. Their latest one is of an old relic or artefact that had been removed from a recently discovered lead coffin. The artefact is extremely dangerous and Lockwood & Co, as well as their rivals Fittes Agency, have been called in to work this case together. If you have read the previous book then you will know that these two agencies do not see eye to eye when it comes down to working together.

I really enjoyed this one as much, if not more so than the first. I think this is because I was already aware of the characters and also the feel of the story. It meant I was able to get straight into the story and plot as I knew who was who. The author has once again created a superb story that has mystery, suspense, and danger and it is a thriller that has some great humour to it as well.

While this is aimed at a younger adult audience, I have to say it also works so well for grown-up readers! It does have an almost gothic feel to it and I wouldn’t be surprised if carriages, police with whistles and truncheons and lamplighters were seen. It is when the author mentions phones, cabs and the more modern items that I realise this is not a Victorian gothic fiction story, but a modern-day one. It has the right vibes and then there is the atmospherics that the author injects into it as well.

As the characters creep around there are orbs of light, glimmers, ghosts, lurkers and various other spectre and creepy things hovering around. It does give it a gentle horror feel but for me, it feels more suspense based.

If you are looking for a fantasy, mystery thriller series and you also enjoy reading YA fiction then this is a series that you should read, if you haven’t already. I have only recently started it and it has been around for quite a few years already. A brilliant book and it is one I would definitely recommend reading.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jonathan Anthony Stroud is an author of fantasy books, mainly for children and youths.

Stroud grew up in St Albans where he enjoyed reading books, drawing pictures, and writing stories. Between the ages seven and nine he was often ill, so he spent most of his days in the hospital or in his bed at home. To escape boredom he would occupy himself with books and stories. After he completed his studies of English literature at the University of York, he worked in London as an editor for the Walker Books store. He worked with different types of books there and this soon led to the writing of his own books. During the 1990s, he started publishing his own works and quickly gained success.

In May 1999, Stroud published his first children’s novel, Buried Fire, which was the first of a line of fantasy/mythology children’s books.

Among his most prominent works are the bestselling Bartimaeus Trilogy. A special feature of these novels compared to others of their genre is that Stroud examines the stereotypes and ethics of the magician class and the enslaved demons. This is done by examining the perspective of the sarcastic and slightly egomaniacal djinni Bartimaeus. The books in this series are The Amulet of Samarkand, The Golem’s Eye, and Ptolemy’s Gate, his first books to be published in the United States.

Stroud lives in St Albans, Hertfordshire, with his two children, Isabelle and Arthur, and his wife Gina, an illustrator of children’s books.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Hunted by Shalini Boland @ShaliniBoland @SecondSkyBooks #NetGalley #paranormal #youngadult #fiction #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for the final book in the Vampires of Marchwood trilogy. Hunted by Shalini Boland brings the answers to the questions and settles old scores and while it has ended I am going to miss these books.

My huge thanks to Second Sky Books for granting my request to read these titles on NetGalley.

My name is Madison Greene and my boyfriend is a vampire. And not just any vampire, one with brooding good looks and a smile that makes my heart skip a beat. As I curl up against Alexandre’s side, our hands entwined, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

Although our relationship hasn’t been easy. I’m human, so there were always going to be complications. But I thought we’d banished the demons from his previous life. I couldn’t have been more wrong…

Because there’s a new threat in the form of Nadia – a blue-eyed beauty who seems determined to do everything she can to break us apart. I trust Alexandre but I don’t trust her.

As I start digging into the truth to find out who Nadia really is, centuries-old secrets begin to unravel. And in order to set Alexandre free from the chains of his past, we must return to the ancient underground city of vampires to defeat Alexandre’s archnemesis once and for all.

Can I finally save Alexandre? Or will loving a vampire be the death of me?

MY REVIEW

After reading the first two books in this trilogy I was definitely eager to see what happened to Maddie and the rather unusual family at Marchwood. Maddie and her brother Ben have inherited Marchwood House and also discovered they have a family they knew nothing about. This family are o100 years old and are vampires. The previous two books have been brilliant at introducing the characters and then showing their journey together. Now, in this final episode, lives are at stake.

Once again the author has created a wonderfully addictive story. The previous books have followed a split timeline and with each book, the historical sections have got older and gone further back into history and time. This is where we begin to see some of the threads wrapping up and also to see what twists and surprises the author has had in store for us readers. I will admit now, I did not envisage the ending how the author did, but it does work brilliantly.

The journey from being alone to being part of a family has been a wonderful one. It has been fraught with danger but at the same time, it has brought these two branches of the family closer. Along with the two families, there is also Alex he was turned at the same time as the older members and is an important person in Maddie’s life.

Slipping back and forth between times is a great way of keeping up to date with present-day events, but also giving something more sinister that lurks from the past. I really enjoyed the way the author made the past events exciting and atmospheric with a sense of mistrust and an ancient being.

Even though this is a mix of horror and a fantasy book, the way it has been written is fabulous no matter what your age. There are some things in the books that reminded me of Twilight but this book also had a lot more uniqueness. There are several routes the author has gone down that make for riveting if at times quite a gory blood-fest. Among all this there is also a romantic element, this is one that has a good feel to it, while other is confusion and arguments there is also a sense of getting used to new situations and feelings. Of young adults finding their place and dealing with a whole array of challenges.

This final book had some great twists and it saw the series brought to its conclusion. It felt right and the author for me has finished it properly, by this I mean it does feel that their story is at an end. There is however a little opening that has been left, well you never know!

This has been a wonderful set of books and if you are a fan of horror, vampires, Young Adult stories, romance and vampires then you will enjoy this one. I am so glad I came across this series and I would definitely recommend this final book and the series as a whole.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shalini –  I write psychological thrillers and dark adventures, and I live in Dorset, England with my husband, two children and our dog. I only write reviews for books I enjoy!

See all the books in the series…

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Taken by Shalini Boland @ShaliniBoland @SecondSkyBooks #NetGalley #youngadult #paranormal #romance c#bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for Taken by Shalini Boland. This is the 2nd book in The Vampires of Marchwood trilogy. You can read my review of the first, Hidden, HERE.

This has been republished by Second Sky, this is the sci-fi and fantasy part of Bookouture and Hatchett. My huge thanks to the publishers for granting my request this read this title via NetGalley.

Falling in love has never been so deadly…

From USA Today bestselling author Shalini Boland comes the addictive Vampires of Marchwood series. Perfect for fans of K.F. Breene, Sarah J. Maas and Tracy Wolff.

My name is Madison Greene and I was an ordinary teenager until I fell in love… with a vampire. Alexandre is tall, with a sexy French accent and mesmerizing eyes. He makes me feel protected, and he’s completely captured my heart.

At Marchwood House, our sprawling mansion nestled in the English countryside, we’re in our own perfect bubble together. But, in the blink of an eye, everything changes when an old enemy of Alexandre’s sets a trap and rips me away from my boyfriend’s arms.

The ancient demon takes me to his underground city, deep beneath the windswept desert. In the twisting tunnels and enormous vaulted caverns, there’s a bloodthirsty vampire around every corner. I’ve never been so terrified…

It seems like there’s no way out from this underground maze. My life is hanging by a thread, and every second I’m here is a step closer to death. I can’t just sit here and hope that Alexandre will rescue me.

Can I outsmart a city of vampires to escape from this hellish place? And will I ever see Alexandre again?

(Previously published as: Thicker Than Blood)

MY REVIEW

This is the second book in the Vampires of Marchwood trilogy and it follows so well from the first book. Where the first book was very good and I thoroughly enjoyed it, this second one really does give you something to get your teeth into, so to speak!

Maddie did not expect to share her house with a long-lost and unknown section of her family. As far as she was aware it was just her and her brother Ben, but it turns out she does have more and they are vampires. The first book laid the foundations and this second book takes on a brilliant turn of pace and ups the ante for all involved. When Maddie is kidnapped, her vampire boyfriend Alex knows where he has to go. What follows is a cat-and-mouse game across Europe and back to Turkey, where Alewx and his friends were first turned.

I adore the way the author uses a duel timeline for these books, not only do they give a good idea of the trials of the present-day setting, but they also take the reader back in history. This is where they first became aware of the vampires. The story focuses on a young woman as well as those who live in a Marchwood House. It is such an interesting story and one that I really enjoyed, how a young woman manages to survive. It is also a chance to see how far Alex will go to save Maddie, and yes what she will do to try to save herself.

There are some things that are reminiscent of Twilight, but only small bits. The general feeling of this series is something older and dangerous at play and there are some wonderfully tense and edge-of-your-seat scenes.

This is a horror as there are vampires, so there are sections of blood and guts. But this is also a story about a family coming together and learning to adapt to new surroundings, even though they can only see these surroundings at night!

This story has a good pace to it and it brings the characters together and shows how they get on. It is not all easy though and there is some tension at times but there are things that the author has thought about that make these books very addictive. It has left me eager but also sad to read the third and final book.

This is a really good book, it has tension, a good atmospheric eerie and creepiness that I really liked. A sense of family and friendship and building trust. Ideal for those who like stories aimed more at Young Adult readers but also works incredibly well for older young adult readers! I would definitely recommend this book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shalini – I write psychological thrillers and dark adventures, and I live in Dorset, England with my husband, two children and our dog. I only write reviews for books I enjoy!

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Hidden by Shalini Boland @bookouture #NetGalley #youngadult #fantasy #bookreview

yvonnembee 3 Comments

I am delighted to share my review for Hidden by Shalini Boland. This is the first book in the Vampires of Marchwood series, it has been re-released by Bookouture under their fantasy and sci-fi division called Second Sky. This was a great book and laid the foundations well for the next two stories. I will be sharing my reviews of those over the next week or so.

My huge thanks to Bookouture for accepting my request to read this title via NetGalley.

A paranormal romance that spans the centuries from modern England to 19th century Paris and ancient Cappadocia.

Madison Greene is in foster care until one day she inherits a fortune, she inherits a house, she inherits a cellar full of danger.

Alexandre Chevalier lives in 19th century Paris. On an archaeological expedition, he discovers a lost underground city where his life changes forever.

Their lives entwine, but this is only the beginning…

MY REVIEW

Imagine being in foster care with your younger brother when you get a visitor to say you have inherited some property. That property turns out to be a mansion and there is plenty in the way of funds to allow you to live a life you really have only ever imagined. Turns out there is a catch, the property is home to a family of vampires.

When Maddie and her brother move into this huge house she starts to investigate, I mean you wouldn’t you? She finds herself in a cellar where there she discovers clothing, papers, paintings and other items from the previous owners and there are also some beautiful statues.

Following a duel timeline, I discovered how the residents in the cellar came to be there. An expedition that went fatally wrong and discovered a truth that no one thought possible. Filling in the past and present details, the author weaves a wonderful story, while it is aimed at young adults I really enjoyed this one as well. There are some wonderful moments where stereotyping vampires comes into conversations.

The story isn’t just one of a young woman who gets a house and meets vampires, there is something far more than that to this story. It is the beginning of a series and so this book lays the foundations for what will follow. It gives the reader a chance to begin to connect to the main characters and this is done in a slow way, not too many at once but all the time keeping the story flowing.

This is a mystery and horror as well as a fantasy and romance story. I do think young adult readers are going to really enjoy this one. It is imaginative and also edgy. It is one to keep an eye out for and one I would happily recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shalini Boland – writes psychological thrillers and dark adventures, and I live in Dorset, England with my husband, two children and our dog. I only write reviews for books I enjoy!

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Lockwood and Co by Jonathon Stroud #fantasy #mystery #YA #bookreview

yvonnembee 1 Comment

I am delighted to share my review today for Lockwood & Co by Jonathan Stroud. This is a book that I adored and I might even watch the NetFlix version! I was fortunate to receive a paperback copy from Amazon Vine for review.

‘The Screaming Staircase?’ Lockwood edged forward in his chair. ‘Please, Mr Fairfax, tell us more.’

For more than fifty years, Britain has been terrorised by an epidemic of murderous ghosts. A number of Psychic Investigations Agencies have sprung up to destroy them – with mixed results . . .

Lucy Carlyle, a talented young agent, arrives in London hoping to begin a shining new chapter in her career. Instead she finds herself joining Lockwood & Co., the most ramshackle agency in the city, whose ineptitude is matched only by the charisma of its owner.

But Lockwood & Co. have one last chance for redemption. All they have to do is spend the night in one of the most haunted houses in England . . . and come out alive.

The first book in an amazingly addictive, binge-worthy series, this is an electrifying, witty and brilliantly spooky thriller, perfect for fans of Rivers of London and Good Omens.

MY REVIEW

It has been a while since I have read anything by this author, so when I saw that this series had been released to coincide with the Netflix series I wanted to give the book a go. I prefer to read books prior to watching a program.

Lucy has just started work for Lockwood & Co, this company is made up of the owner, Lockwood and his colleague George. It is children or teens that are most perceptive to visitors, ghosts, paranormal entities and psychic energies. Lockwood & Co is one of the smaller investigating units and Lucy’s first case with them doesn’t really go to plan. It is, however, licky when a rich industrialist who then approaches them to help him with a notorious haunted house.

This is aimed at a young adult audience, but this older adult thoroughly enjoyed it. Sometimes it is great to go back to books aimed at a younger audience as it brings back the sense of action and adventure that these books exude.

Having the main characters as children makes sense as it is often said that it is the younger generation that is more sensitive to paranormal events. It is also great that these three are living and working in an adult world and are doing very well, well almost!

The three definitely have more bravery than I would, I definitely wouldn’t be wandering around a strange house haunted or not with just a candle and a few bags of salt, iron and magnesium. Thank goodness the author has created characters that are far braver than I am.

This is a fabulous book and is full of excitement, adventure, daring and a good amount of humour. It has been a wonderful book to pick up and read and I am looking forward to reading more in this series. Ideal for young and older adult readers who like fantasy adventure and mystery stories. I would definitely recommend this.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jonathan Anthony Stroud is an author of fantasy books, mainly for children and youths.

Stroud grew up in St Albans where he enjoyed reading books, drawing pictures, and writing stories. Between the ages seven and nine he was often ill, so he spent most of his days in the hospital or in his bed at home. To escape boredom he would occupy himself with books and stories. After he completed his studies of English literature at the University of York, he worked in London as an editor for the Walker Books store. He worked with different types of books there and this soon led to the writing of his own books. During the 1990s, he started publishing his own works and quickly gained success.

In May 1999, Stroud published his first children’s novel, Buried Fire, which was the first of a line of fantasy/mythology children’s books.

Among his most prominent works are the bestselling Bartimaeus Trilogy. A special feature of these novels compared to others of their genre is that Stroud examines the stereotypes and ethics of the magician class and the enslaved demons. This is done by examining the perspective of the sarcastic and slightly egomaniacal djinni Bartimaeus. The books in this series are The Amulet of Samarkand, The Golem’s Eye, and Ptolemy’s Gate, his first books to be published in the United States.

Stroud lives in St Albans, Hertfordshire, with his two children, Isabelle and Arthur, and his wife Gina, an illustrator of children’s books.

Many thanks for reading my post,a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Gallant by V.E. Schwab #fantasy #gothic #YA #20booksofsummer #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for Gallant by V.E. Schwab. This is the first book I have read by this author and I decided to give it a go after seeing other reviewers enjoying it.

This is book 5/20 in the #20booksofsummer reading challenge.

Sixteen-year-old Olivia Prior is missing three things: a mother, a father, and a voice. Her mother vanished all at once, and her father by degrees, and her voice was a thing she never had to start with.

She grew up at Merilance School for Girls. Now, nearing the end of her time there, Olivia receives a letter from an uncle she’s never met, her father’s older brother, summoning her to his estate, a place called Gallant. But when she arrives, she discovers that the letter she received was several years old. Her uncle is dead. The estate is empty, save for the servants. Olivia is permitted to remain, but must follow two rules: don’t go out after dusk, and always stay on the right side of a wall that runs along the estate’s western edge.

Beyond it is another realm, ancient and magical, which calls to Olivia through her blood…

MY REVIEW

This is my first time reading one of this author’s books and I think I chose very well when I decided to buy a copy of Gallant. This was a fabulous gothic-style mystery that did have similarities to another wonderful book, The Secret Garden, but Schwab does go darker.

The story is of an orphan, abandoned and unwanted. Olivia doesn’t speak, this means she doesn’t have friends but what she does do is watch. When she is coming to the end of her time at the Merilance School for Girls a strange message arrives saying that Olivia does indeed have family and they have been searching for her.

When she arrives at her home she discovers a place that has very few people there. It seems that the family and quite possibly the house is cursed. There is a wonderful eerie presence throughout this story and the author increases this as it goes on.

Rather than having the warm welcome she expected, she is received with some shock and surprise. Why on earth would anyone want to come to this house. Why would they want to stay?

I love the mystery in this story and it just oozes that eerie-ness and wonderful gothic thriller/ horror feel. There are many strange things that happen in this story, yes it is a fantasy but one that I adored, but then I do also like fantasy.

This story may be about Olivia, but it is also about the family and what originally brought them there, and why they remain. It provides some interesting and unexpected twists.

Fabulous reading, wonderful characters, and a great storyline. I really enjoyed this and I look forward to reading more. I would definitely recommend this one. 

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill @bonnierbooks_uk #fantasy #feminism #histfic #NetGalley #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill. This was a fabulous book to read and while it is a fantasy story, the Dragons in this book could be seen as a metaphor for the feminism that lies behind it. As a fantasy read I thoroughly enjoyed it, as a metaphorical read, I can see the points that the author is making. (I hope this makes sense!!!) However you read this or take the message, it is a brilliant story. And… I love the cover 😍

My huge thanks to Bonnier Books UK for granting my request to read this e-book via NetGalley.

Learn about the Mass Dragoning of 1955 in which 300,000 women spontaneously transform into dragons…and change the world.

Alex Green is a young girl in a world much like ours. But this version of 1950’s America is characterized by a significant event: The Mass Dragoning of 1955, when hundreds of thousands of ordinary wives and mothers sprouted wings, scales and talons, left a trail of fiery destruction in their path, and took to the skies. Seemingly for good. Was it their choice? What will become of those left behind? Why did Alex’s beloved Aunt Marla transform but her mother did not? Alex doesn’t know. It’s taboo to speak of, even more so than her crush on Sonja, her schoolmate.

Forced into silence, Alex nevertheless must face the consequences of dragons: a mother more protective than ever; a father growing increasingly distant; the upsetting insistence that her aunt never even existed; and a new “sister” obsessed with dragons far beyond propriety. Through loss, rage, and self-discovery, this story follows Alex’s journey as she deals with the events leading up to and beyond the Mass Dragoning, and her connection with the phenomenon itself. 

MY REVIEW

Ok, so I will admit the title of this book really called to me when I saw it. When Women Were Dragons is a reimagining with a definite fantasy thread, the dragons kind of give it away really!

Set in the 1950s this is a brilliant book that mixes historical with fantasy. Women through the years have transformed into dragons, they are never seen, mentioned or talked about ever again. In 1955 when 1,000s of women worldwide changed were still covered up. No one is allowed to mention the word dragon or anything to do with this event.

The thing is, the women have very little control over this change, some could hold it back and others just went with it.

This is a brilliant story that is about women empowering themselves and making the choice as to how they live their own lives. This is a time when women stay home, cook meals, look after the house, raise the children and have a meal ready on the table for when their husband walks in the door. It is very much a patriarchal society and while this story is set in a small area in the US, it was something that was a worldwide thing.

The focus is on Alex, a young girl who is confused by events that are happening, not just to family and neighbours who have changed, but also the changes in her own body. As a young girl, there are expectations of her and what she is to do with her future. Alex however has other ideas, she wants to go on with her education and go to university. Others think that a piece of paper to say you are clever isn’t much use when you are a mother and wife.

This story is very much about discrimination and there are times I got so angry with the attitudes of some of the characters, this is all credit to the author. I do love a story that makes me go through various emotions and this one definitely did that. Anger, euphoria, happiness, sadness and a sense of justice are just some of them. The way the author portrayed Alex and other women was just so good, the way they carried themselves with eyes down at the ground while all the time wanting to look up and to the future made it quite a powerful read.

This was a brilliant book to read, at times I admit it did get a bit far-fetched, but it still kept up the flow and feel of the story. I think at times I actually forgot some of the characters were dragons!

I adored this book and I did like the mix of fantasy with historical fiction. The concept is such a good one and it really appealed to me. This is a story about empowerment as well as a coming of age story. It does carry a powerful message and it is one I would definitely recommend.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

You’ll Be the Death of Me by Karen M McManus #YAFiction #crime #mystery #bookreview

yvonnembee 1 Comment

I am delighted to share my review today for You’ll Be the Death of Me by Karen M McManus. I read this one at the beginning of January and have only now got around to writing this post up. But, I have finally caught up with the review backlog now.

From the author of One of Us Is Lying comes a brand new pulse-pounding thriller. When three old friends re-live an epic ditch day, it goes horribly-and deadly-wrong.

Ivy, Mateo, and Cal used to be close. Back in middle school they were best friends. So, when Cal pulls into campus late for class, and runs into Ivy and Mateo, it seems like the perfect opportunity to turn a bad day around. They’ll ditch school and go into the city. Just the three of them, like old times. Why did they stop hanging out, anyway?

As soon as they pull out of the parking lot Cal knows why. Ivy’s already freaking out about missing class, and heartthrob Mateo is asleep in the backseat, too cool to even pretend like he wants to be there. The truth is they have nothing in common anymore.

At least they don’t until they run into the fourth student ditching school that day. Brian “Boney” Mahoney is supposed to be accepting his newly won office of class president. Which is why Ivy follows him into an empty building, only to walk into the middle of a murder scene. Cal, Ivy, and Mateo all know the person lying on the ground of that building, and now they need to come clean. They’re all hiding something. And maybe their chance reconnection wasn’t by chance after all. 

MY REVIEW

This is the second book I have read by this author and it is another very twisted and intriguing read. Three friends decide to try and recreate a day from years ago, it was a day they all adored. Now they are older and decide to take the day off from college and hang out. The last thing they expect to find in an art studio is one of their classmates dead!

This is a story that I did initially find slower, to begin with, the author takes time bringing the characters of Cal, Matteo and Ivy together, but once she does she then begins to add subtle twists that gradually develop into something a lot bigger as the story develops.

Rather than going to the police, the three teens run. It makes sense to them because the police arrive just as they discover the body and one of them has a reason for not being friendly towards the victim.

This is a story that gradually grew on me, the author kept adding more twists and characters as deepening the plot. It definitely has that YA feel to it especially as it is students of a US college system. There are various references to college life and I do think the thought processes of those involved felt right as I read this.

I did enjoy the latter third of the book as things suddenly started to connect, the last quarter definitely sped up to a faster pace. This is when various things landed and I found myself suddenly seeing the bigger picture. A mystery that is not as simple as I first thought it may be kept me reading to discover the truth.

This is a crime mystery that is aimed at Young Adult readers, while it is not a thriller as such there is plenty of intrigue. It is one that I would happily recommend. 

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Ouija by Zoe-Lee O’Farrell @QuestionPress #Horror #Debut #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for Debut Author Zoe-Lee O’Farrell and her book Ouija. This is the second book in the Question Mark Horror series where different authors write a short story. I have to say Ouija was fabulous reading.

The only thing for certain is the deaths were no accident.

Rayner High School once a prestigious school stands in ruins after such a terrible event.

A year later, a group of friends return to the abandoned school and their nightmare begins.

Something wants to get out and won’t take NO for an answer…

Ouija is Book 2 in a new series brought to you by Question Mark Horror. For fans of Point Horror, Christopher Pike & Nicholas Pine.

You can read my Full review for Camp Death by Jim Ody HERE

MY REVIEW

When a group of teens decide to visit an old, abandoned school you just know there is going to be trouble. Of course, there are rumours about what happened to the school and in particular one day when the school becomes the thing of nightmares.

WOW! What a debut for this author. This is an absolutely cracking read that I adored. Following the teens, I gradually learnt more about them and also about what happened in the school the previous year. The title of the book obviously gives a big clue as to what brings that past to the present. Yep, an Ouija board!

As I have gotten older, I have become a bit of a weedy wuss when it comes to horror, and considering Ouija is aimed at a YA audience it still left me feeling a little uneasy as I was reading it. I mean, abandoned schools and an Ouija board are major no-nos in my book. Thank goodness this author is braver than me as she has worked some wonderful atmospherics into this story.

It definitely has a sinister feel to it and this deepens the further the story goes. Things start to weird as if they weren’t weird already, and they get more intriguing and dangerous. This author has woven a creepy, series and very addictive tale.

If you are a fan of horror, especially teen or YA horror then this is one you really want to pick up. I had a great time reading it and I would definitely recommend it.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx