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.

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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: 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!

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.

Review: Witch Hunter

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Book Review, Virginia Boecker, Witch Hunter

Author: Virginia Boecker

Series: Witch Hunter (book 1)

Rating: 3 stars

Genre: Fantasy

Synopsis: Witches, watch out… Half Bad meets Kill Bill in this incredible new supernatural series.

Sixteen-year-old Elizabeth Grey doesn’t look dangerous. A tiny, blonde, wisp of a girl shouldn’t know how to poison a wizard and make it look like an accident. Or take out ten necromancers with a single sword and a bag of salt. Or kill a man using only her thumb. But things are not always as they appear. Elizabeth is one of the best witch hunters in Anglia and a member of the king’s elite guard, devoted to rooting out witchcraft and bringing those who practice it to justice. And in Anglia, the price of justice is high: death by burning.

When Elizabeth is accused of being a witch herself, she’s arrested and thrown in prison. The king declares her a traitor and her life is all but forfeit. With just hours before she’s to die at the stake, Elizabeth gets a visitor – Nicholas Perevil, the most powerful wizard in Anglia. He offers her a deal: he will free her from prison and save her from execution if she will track down the wizard who laid a deadly curse on him.

As Elizabeth uncovers the horrifying facts about Nicholas’s curse and the unwitting role she played in its creation, she is forced to redefine the differences between right and wrong, friends and enemies, love and hate… and life and death.

The first book in an incredible new series set in a fantastical medieval world.

How I got this book: Netgalley

Release Date: June 2, 2015

The Short Version:

Urgh. I have no idea what I think of this. The story itself was good, but the characters…

Review: Spelled

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Betsy Schow, Book Review, Spelled

Author: Betsy Schow

Series: Spelled (Book 1)

Rating: 4 stars

Genre: Fantasy

Synopsis: Fairy Tale Survival Rule #32: If you find yourself at the mercy of a wicked witch, sing a romantic ballad and wait for your Prince Charming to save the day.

Yeah, no thanks. Dorthea is completely princed out. Sure being the crown princess of Emerald has its perks—like Glenda Original ball gowns and Hans Christian Louboutin heels. But a forced marriage to the brooding prince Kato is so not what Dorthea had in mind for her enchanted future.

Talk about unhappily ever after.

Trying to fix her prince problem by wishing on a (cursed) star royally backfires, leaving the kingdom in chaos and her parents stuck in some place called “Kansas.” Now it’s up to Dorthea and her pixed off prince to find the mysterious Wizard of Oz and undo the curse…before it releases the wickedest witch of all and spells The End for the world of Story

How I got this book: Netgalley

Release Date: June 2, 2015

The Short Version:

Characters started off really annoying. Characters gradually improved (which was kind of the point, so I can forgive their annoyingness). Despite the annoying characters, the story was actually pretty good…although the blurb is fairly misleading.

And by fairly misleading, I mean ignore the blurb entirely because it tells you things you don’t find out until the end of the book, and would probably be a better blurb if it was allocated to the sequel.

Review: Bright Before Sunrise

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Book Review, Bright Before Sunrise, Tiffany Schmidt

Author: Tiffany Schmidt

Series: None

Rating: 5 stars

Genre: Contemporary

Synopsis: Jonah and Brighton are about to have the most awkwardly awful night of their lives.

For Jonah, every aspect of his new life reminds him of what he has had to give up. All he wants is to be left alone.

Brighton is popular, pretty, and always there to help anyone . . . but has no idea of what she wants for herself. Her seemingly perfect life is marred only by Jonah, the one person who won’t give her the time of day, but also makes her feel, well, something. So when they are repeatedly thrown together over the course of one night, anything can–and does–happen.

Told in alternating chapters, this poignant, beautiful novel’s energy and tension, amidst the humour and romance, builds to a new beginning of self-acceptance and hope.

How I got this book: Sent from Bloomsbury (thank you so much!)

Release Date: May, 2015

The Short Version:

I AM NOT A CONTEMPORARY PERSON THIS BOOK WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO MAKE ME STAY UP UNTIL 3AM!!
Though I suppose I should have seen it coming…whenever a books time span takes a single night I can’t seem to help myself.

Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses

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A Court of Thorns and Roses, Book Review, Sarah J. Maas

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses (Book 1)

Rating: 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy

Synopsis: When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she’s been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

How I got this book: Sent from publisher (Thank you!!!!!)

Release Date: May 5, 2015

The Short Version: