It ended in 2016: Half Bad (series review)

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Book Review, Half Bad, Sally Green

Author: Sally Green

First book published: 2014

Synopsis (book 1):

Wanted by no one.

Hunted by everyone.

Sixteen-year-old Nathan lives in a cage: beaten, shackled, trained to kill. In a modern-day England where two warring factions of witches live amongst humans, Nathan is an abomination, the illegitimate son of the world’s most terrifying and violent witch, Marcus. Nathan’s only hope for survival is to escape his captors, track down Marcus, and receive the three gifts that will bring him into his own magical powers—before it’s too late. But how can Nathan find his father when there is no one safe to trust, not even family, not even the girl he loves?

The Short Version

To sum up this book series in two gifs:

 

But this series is still amazing, and you should ALL read it.

The long version may contain spoilers for the entire series. You have been warned.

The Long Version

There are no words to describe my love of this series.

But I’m going to try.

Book 1: Half Bad

When I first read this book, it completely blew me away.

Like, completely.

The second person POV at the beginning was brilliant, and the story itself was wonderful…in a horrible way.

The highlight was definitely the characters. Nathan was just so broken and angry, and most of the other characters were just so awful. And it was all presented just so well.

Absolutely loved it.

Book 2: Half Wild

After reading Half Bad, I hadn’t thought the series could get better.

I was wrong. It did.

Half Wild picks up where Half Bad left off…Nathan alone and thinking Gabriel is probably dead.

Nathan is also having to adjust to the fact that every now and then he turns a somewhat vicious animal.

Just like the first book, the characters were brilliantly portrayed in this book.

AND I JUST LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!

Book 3: Half Lost

This book in one gif:

That is all.

Conclusion

An amazing series by amazing author.

Seriously, guys, you need this series in your life.

YA Squad Review: The Things I Didn’t Say

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Book Review, Kylie Fornasier, The Things I Didn't Say

Author: Kylie Fornasier

Series: None

Rating: 5 stars

Genre: Contemporary

Synopsis: I hate the label Selective Mutism – as if I choose not to speak, like a child who refuses to eat broccoli. I’ve used up every dandelion wish since I was ten wishing for the power to speak whenever I want to. I’m starting to wonder if there are enough dandelions.

After losing her best friend that night, Piper Rhodes changes schools, determined that her final year will be different. She will be different. Then she meets West: school captain, star soccer player, the boy everyone talks about. Despite her fear of losing everything all over again, Piper falls in love – and West with her – without Piper ever speaking one word to him. But will it last?

How I got this book: Bought

Release Date: May 2, 2016

The Short Version:

This was beautiful and amazing.

WHY is this author not more popular?

It ended in 2016: The Raven Boys (series review)

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Book Review, Maggie Stiefvater, The Raven Cycle

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

First book published: 2012

Synopsis (book 1): ‘There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,’ Neeve said. ‘Either you’re his true love…or you killed him.’

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

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, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all — family money, good looks, devoted friends — but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

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 Short Version

WOW.

Just WOW.

The long version may contain spoilers for the entire series. You have been warned.

The Long Version

Everything about this series is just so amazing. Every time I read it, I love it more.

Seriously, there are no words.

Book 1: The Raven Boys

I remember first reading this book. Well, listening, since it was on audio (the audio books for this series are great, guys, I would definitely recommend them).

So, the story starts with Blue seeing the spirit of Gansey, which means that at some point in the book we are going to meet a person called Gansey and at some point in the series this person is going to die.

Which was fine…until Gansey actually showed up.

Book 2: The Dream Thieves

I have to admit, the first time I read this I wasn’t the biggest fan of this particular book in the series.

But as I said earlier, the more times I read these books the more I love them.

This book was mostly dramatic car racing and Adam being weird after the whole Cabeswater thing. And of course, ends with Maura disappearing.

Book 3: Blue Lily, Lily Blue

This book is probably my favourite of the series.

I don’t even know why, I JUST LOVE THESE BOOKS SO MUCH!

And the whole book I was just

Book 4: The Raven King

The build up to this book can be literally summed up in one tweet:

All of these tweets saying "Maggie, don't kill Gansey!" Oh, please. That kid is going DOWN.

— Maggie Stiefvater (@mstiefvater) September 30, 2014

The Raven King was definitely the most intense of the four books. With book 1 being more of an exciting magical adventure, book 2 being all weird with car racing and dreaming, and book 3 was just full of shippy feels, but book 4 was INTENSE.

After waking the demon in Blue Lily, Lily Blue, Piper Greenmantle is basically ruining everything, and people are dying and time is going wibbly and we know it’s only a matter of time before Gansey dies…

And then it was over.

Conclusion

An amazing series by amazing author, I will throw this series at everyone I meet.

Review: And I Darken

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And I Darken, Book Review, Kiersten White

Author: Kiersten White

Series: Conqueror’s Saga (book 1)

Rating: 5 stars

Genre: Historical

Synopsis: No one expects a princess to be brutal. And Lada Dragwyla likes it that way.

Ever since she and her brother were abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman sultan’s courts, Lada has known that ruthlessness is the key to survival. For the lineage that makes her and her brother special also makes them targets.

Lada hones her skills as a warrior as she nurtures plans to wreak revenge on the empire that holds her captive. Then she and Radu meet the sultan’s son, Mehmed, and everything changes. Now Mehmed unwittingly stands between Lada and Radu as they transform from siblings to rivals, and the ties of love and loyalty that bind them together are stretched to breaking point.

The first of an epic new trilogy starring the ultimate anti-princess who does not have a gentle heart. Lada knows how to wield a sword, and she’ll stop at nothing to keep herself and her brother alive.

How I got this book: Bought it

Release Date: June 28, 2016

The Short Version:

SO FREAKING GOOD!!

Like, seriously, SO GOOD!!!

WARNING: The long version may contain minor spoilers.

Review: Something Strange and Deadly

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Something Strange and Deadly, Susan Dennard

Author: Susan Dennard

Series: Something Strange and Deadly (book 1)

Rating: 3 stars

Genre: Steampunk with Zombies

Synopsis: There’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia. . . .

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about.

Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper:

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor . . . from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including the maddeningly stubborn yet handsome Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.

How I got this book: Borrowed from Library

Release Date: July 24, 2012

The Short Version:

Overall, it was a good book…I just didn’t like it all that much.

Series Review: Heartland

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Heartland, Lauren Brooke

Author: Lauren Brooke

Rating: 4 stars

Genre: Contemporary

Series Synopsis (found on goodreads): This powerful series follows Amy Fleming through the loss of her mother and her struggle to continue the work at Heartland-a refuge for abused and abandoned horses.

The Short Version:

Twenty. Books.

TWENTY. BOOKS.

I don’t usually read series this long, but since I could read 2-3 books each day (one on the train ride TO uni, one on the train ride FROM uni and then sometimes another when I got home), I decided it would be worthwhile.

I was not mistaken.

I can definitely see why 12-year old Cassie loved these books.

Movie Review: Allegiant (Spoiler Free…ish)

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Allegiant, movie review

Fun Facts: So, I wasn’t actually planning on seeing this movie.

I know, shocking.

I had enjoyed Divergent/Insurgent, but after the ending of Insurgent, I wasn’t overly fussed on seeing Allegiant.

And then Kinokuniya offered free tickets to the preview screening, and suddenly going didn’t seem like such a bad idea.

So I went, I saw, and now I have opinions for you to read.

(Note: when I went I met up with Sass, Elspeth, Sam and Claire…also, my sister came with me)

How I got tickets: Kinokuniya Australia (thank you!)

Release Date (Aus): April 14, 2015 (today)

The Short Version:

I think the main reason I enjoyed this movie as much as I did was because I was sitting next to people who enjoyed poking fun at it as much as I did.

And we poked SO much fun.

For example, this was David:

But really, the movie wasn’t actually as bad as I was expecting.

I am aware that the heading of this review says spoiler free…ish, but if you want to go into the movie completely blind I would suggest that you stop reading here.

Review: Rebel of the Sands

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Alwyn Hamilton, Book Review, Rebel of the Sands

Author: Alwyn Hamilton

Series: Rebel of the Sands (Book 1)

Rating: 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy

Synopsis: “Tell me that and we’ll go. Right now. Save ourselves and leave this place to burn. Tell me that’s how you want your story to go and we’ll write it straight across the sand.”

Dustwalk is Amani’s home. The desert sand is in her bones. But she wants to escape. More than a want. A need.

Then a foreigner with no name turns up to save her life, and with him the chance to run. But to where? The desert plains are full of danger. Sand and blood are swirling, and the Sultan’s enemies are on the rise.

How I got this book: Bought (Because THAT COVER guys)

Release Date: February 4, 2016

Buy this book: Book Depository | Bookworld | Booktopia

The Short Version:

*hyperventilates*

Everyone needs to go buy this book…NOW!

Review: Thicker than Water

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Brigid Kemmerer, Thicker Than Water

Author: Brigid Kemmerer

Series: Unknown

Rating: 4.5 stars

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Synopsis: On his own

Thomas Bellweather hasn’t been in town long. Just long enough for his newlywed mother to be murdered, and for his new stepdad’s cop colleagues to decide Thomas is the primary suspect.

Not that there’s any evidence. But before Thomas got to Garretts Mill there had just been one other murder in twenty years.

The only person who believes him is Charlotte Rooker, little sister to three cops and, with her soft hands and sweet curves, straight-up dangerous to Thomas. Her best friend was the other murder vic. And she’d like a couple answers.

Answers that could get them both killed, and reveal a truth Thomas would die to keep hidden…

How I got this book: Sent from publisher (THANK YOU Allen & Unwin)

Release Date: January 4, 2016

The Short Version:

I absolutely loved it.

Even though I didn’t realise it was supposed to be paranormal until about half way, when the paranormal elements revealed themselves. And then the paranormal elements seemed a little under-developed.

It also seemed to set up for a sequel, though I have seen no news of a sequel.

Also, I feel the need to point out that the synopsis seems to be for an almost completely different book…

Blog Tour: The Next Together

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Book Review, Lauren James, The Next Together

Author: Lauren James

Series: The Next Together (Book 1)

Rating: 5 stars

Genre: Contemporary/sci-fi/historical

Synopsis: How many times can you lose the person you love?

Katherine and Matthew are destined to be born again and again, century after century. Each time, their presence changes history for the better, and each time, they fall hopelessly in love, only to be tragically separated.

Spanning the Crimean War, the Siege of Carlisle and the near-future of 2019 and 2039 they find themselves sacrificing their lives to save the world. But why do they keep coming back? What else must they achieve before they can be left to live and love in peace?

Maybe the next together will be different…

A powerful and epic debut novel for teenagers about time-travel, fate and the timelessness of first love. The Next Together is told through a mixture of regular prose, diary entries, letters, “original” historical documents, news reports and internet articles.

How I got this book: Sent from publisher (thank you!!) (This has not influenced my review)

Release Date: November 3, 2015

Find on: Goodreads | Booktopia | Angus and Robertson | Book Depository

The Short Version:

This book was adorable. Matt and Kate were so cute together.

And I absolutely loved the way the story was told. What with the multiple timelines and the little notes from 2019 Katherine and Matthew.

This is a spoiler free review.