Harrow Lake review

Lola Nox is the daughter of a celebrated horror filmmaker - she thinks nothing can scare her. But when her father is brutally attacked in their New York apartment, she's swiftly packed off to live with a grandmother she's never met in Harrow Lake, the eerie town where her father's most iconic horror movie was shot.

The locals are weirdly obsessed with the film that put their town on the map - and there are strange disappearances, which the police seem determined to explain away.

And there's someone - or something - stalking Lola's every move.

The more she discovers about the town, the more terrifying it becomes. Because Lola's got secrets of her own. And if she can't find a way out of Harrow Lake, they might just be the death of her...

That blurb ticks off everything I want from a book, and Harrow Lake is just as good as it sounds. I'm on a constant quest for YA horror and this is one of the best I've read. I rarely read a book in 24 hours these days, but I devoured Harrow Lake. 

The suffocating small town setting is captured to disturbing detail. There are so many superb, dark set pieces and creepy supporting characters that really immerse you in the story.

Reading this book feels like watching a great horror film! There's tangible suspense, scares that really got under my skin and a mystery that I couldn't predict at all. The pop culture references fit well and reminded me of favourite horror movies, like Scream.

It's so rare to find a book that evokes visceral fear and Harrow Lake is definitely one that will stay with me. It's definitely a new favourite and I can't wait until my preorder arrives on 9th July. 

How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather - review

Publisher: Walker Books (4th January 2018)

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review.

The trials of high school start to feel like a modern-day witch hunt for a teen with all the wrong connections to Salem's past in this thrilling, creepy and romantic New York Times bestseller.

"I am utterly addicted to Adriana Mather’s electric debut. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, twisting and turning with ghosts, witches, an ancient curse, and – sigh – romance." Jennifer Niven

After Sam's father is hospitalised, she has to move from New York to Salem with her stepmother, Vivian. Unfortunately, Sam is related to Cotton Mather, one of the men responsible for the Salem Witch Trials, and to say she feels unwelcome in Salem is an understatement... She is particularly unnerved by The Descendants, a mysterious and tight-knit group of girls related to those persecuted in the Trials. At the same time, she must deal with Elijah, the handsome but angry ghost who has appeared in her house, and her new neighbour Jaxon only complicates things further.

When a centuries-old curse is rekindled, Sam finds herself at the centre of it. Can she stop history repeating itself? (Publishers' blurb)

This book has been described as 'Mean Girls meets history class' by seventeen magazine, and that's a pretty accurate description! I've always been fascinated by the Salem Witch Trials, and this book does a great job of fusing elements from the past to a fun contemporary story.

The historical elements were the real highlight of this for me, and I loved the fact that the author is actually a descendent of a witch hunter from the Salem Witch Trials. I really liked how historical events and characters impacted on the modern day events. 

I also thought this book had a really compelling plot, and I enjoyed trying to work out what was causing the curse. The book felt fast paced, and I read it really quickly. There were a couple of plot elements that felt familiar from similar books, but overall I felt this was a new take on the subject matter.

How to Hang a Witch was an enjoyable, intriguing read and I'll definitely read the sequel (which is already out in a previous edition).

If you liked the sound of this, try The Graces by Laure Eve.

Hero at the Fall by Alwyn Hamilton - review

Publisher: Faber & Faber (30 Jan. 2018) 

Once, in the desert country of Miraji, there was a Sultan without an heir.

The heir had been killed by his own brother, the treacherous Rebel Prince, who was consumed by jealousy and sought the throne for himself.

Or so it was said by some. There were others who said that the Rebel Prince was not a traitor but a hero...

In the final battle for the throne, Amani must fight for everything she believes in, but with the rebellion in pieces, and the Sultan's armies advancing across the desert plains, who will lead, who will triumph, who will live and who will die? (Publishers' blurb)

There aren't many books that I've anticipated quite as much as this one, so I wondered if it could possibly live up to my expectations. I should've known that it would exceed them, and that I would go through every emotion (including buckets of tears).

Sometimes by the end of a series, I feel like the books (and my interest) have run out of steam. If anything, the action and tension were even greater in this book, so I almost couldn't bear it by the end!

The plotting is one of the best parts. I loved how Hero at the Fall pulled everything together from the other books, and how every detail in this one counted.

The mythical stories are another thing I absolutely love. I'm obsessed with myths, and not only are these beautifully written, it's also really clever how they reveal other elements of the story.

I can't talk about this series without mentioning the characters. Alwyn's books have some of my favourite characters of all time, especially Amani, Jin and Shazad. Even the minor characters feel well-developed, and I really cared about all of them (and who made it to the end).

This is an absolutely incredible series of books, that will give you all the feels (happy and heartbreaking ones). If for some reason you haven't pick it up, it's the perfect time to read Rebel of the Sands and Traitor to the Throne before the new book comes out!