UKYA Book Blogger Awards Winners 2016!

Without further ado let us unveil the UKYA Book Blogger Awards winners:

Best Adult Blogger

Winner – Michelle - Tales Of Yesterday

2nd Place – Jim – YAYeahYeah

3rd Place – Sally - The Dark Dictator

Best Teen Blogger

Winner – Amber - The Mile Long Bookshelf

2nd Place – Lucy - Queen of Contemporary

3rd Place - Georgia Dalton - TeenBookHoots

Blogger Spirit Award

Winner – Michelle - Tales Of Yesterday

2nd Place – Viv - Serendipity Reviews

3rd Place - Lucy - Queen of Contemporary

Best Male Blogger

Winner – Jim – YAYeahYeah

2nd Place – George Lester

3rd Place - Andrew – The Pewter Wolf

Best Female Blogger

Winner – Grace - Almost Amazing Grace

2nd Place – Michelle - Tales Of Yesterday

3rd Place - Miriam - Hello I Am Miriam

Best Team / Co-op Blog

Winner – Serendipity Reviews

2nd Place – Bookish Brits

3rd Place - The Big Book Project

Marvellous Blogger Award

Winner – Grace - Almost Amazing Grace

2nd Place – Michelle - Tales Of Yesterday

3rd Place - Luna - Luna's Little Library

Best Overseas Blogger 

Winner – Cait - Paper Fury

2nd Place – Jamie - The Perpetual Page-Turner

3rd Place - Lili - Lili's Reflections

Best Booktuber

Winner – Lucy - Queen of Contemporary

2nd Place – George Lester

3rd Place - Stevie - SableCaught

Best on Social Media

Winner – Michelle - Tales Of Yesterday

2nd Place – Mariam - Hello I Am Mariam

3rd Place - Jim – YAYeahYeah

Best Oldtimer

Winner – Amber - The Mile Long Bookshelf

2nd Place – Viv - Serendipity Reviews

3rd Place - Lucy - Queen of Contemporary

Best Growing Blogger 

Winner – Michelle - Tales Of Yesterday

2nd Place – Virginie - Chouett Blog

3rd Place - Chloe - Writer-On-Wheels

Best Newcomer

Winner – Jo Clarke - Booklover Jo

2nd Place – Hannah Ha - Ninjas Reads Too

3rd Place - Cintia – Reflectionofthebooks

Best Blogger Feature

Winner – 6 Degrees - YAYeahYeah

2nd Place – Secret Serendipity Seven & Blogger Island Books - Serendipity Reviews

3rd Place - Looks on Books - Casey Ann / Dark Readers

The 2016 UKYA Book Blogger Awards in numbers:

Something like 30hrs+ were spent backstage putting the awards together.
More than 100 nominations were put forward…
28 UKYA Bloggers made the longlist
33 UKYA Bloggers were on the shortlist
Over 2600 votes were cast in 14 categories
There were 16 lovely helpers and 1 host
On the 30th May at 6pm (that’s tonight) there is 1 epic Book Lover / Awards Twitter Party and you are all invited!

See you at the Twitter celebrations tonight!

#bookloverparty #awardukyabbloggers

A big thank you to all the helpers:

Aditi @ A Thousand Words A Million Books
Amy McCaw @ YA Under My Skin
Andrew @ The Pewter Wolf
Annalise @ AnnaliseBooks
Aurelija @ myblinddatewithbooks
Chelley Toy @ Tales Of Yesterday
Chloe @ Writer-On-Wheels
Cintia @ Reflection of the Books
Emma @ Howling Reviews
Georgia Stencel @ The Books Bandit
Jesse @ thatjessebloke
Kaavya @ outlookonabook
Kaisha @ thewritinggarnet
Rachel Kennedy @ Ya-bberingBooklover
Rebecca @ Rebecca McCormick’s Authorial Blog
Virginie @ Chouett

I hope you enjoyed the 2016 UKYA Book Blogger Awards!

Ruined by Amy Tintera - Review

Publisher: Harper Collins (2nd June 2016)

Emelina Flores has nothing. Her home in Ruina has been ravaged by war; her parents were killed and her sister was kidnapped. Even though Em is only a useless Ruined—completely lacking any magic—she is determined to get revenge. Her plan is simple: she will infiltrate the enemy’s kingdom, posing as the crown prince’s betrothed. She will lead an ambush. She will kill the king and everything he holds dear, including his son. The closer Em gets to the prince, though, the more she questions her mission. Her rage-filled heart begins to soften. But with her life—and her family—on the line, love could be Em’s deadliest mistake. (Publishers' blurb)

I received this book in my Fairy Loot crate knowing nothing about it. Despite that, this has ended up being the best YA fantasy that I've read for a long time. The writing and characters were amazing and it had a freshness about it that's sometimes lacking in this genre. 

There were some familiar aspects (royal family and girl who must get married etc) but I really loved the revenge story slant on this. Emelina was a seriously tough, awesome YA heroine and I liked how different scenarios were filtered through her viewpoint. For example, when she met an enemy she was usually distracted by all of the different ways she could kill them.  

The romance was also amazing! I'm not a fan of a love story being crow-barred in for no reason. In this, the relationship was integral to the plot and one hundred percent sucked me in. There were plenty of obstacles and moments of tension to keep me entertained.

Another great part of this book was the brilliant balance between the aforementioned softer moments and some really gripping action scenes! The magical abilities in the book were well-thought out (and horrifying at times), which fed into the building plot conflict.

I would strongly recommend this to fans of romance and fantasy. Amy Tintera said it best when discussing the book: "As I was writing Ruined, I realized it was for girls like me - the ones who want a love story with a prince as much as they want an angry girl inciting a revolution." 

If that sounds as great to you as it does to me, then go out and buy this book!

If you liked the sound of this, now try these:

-The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

-The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

-The Sin Eater's Daughter by Melinda Salisbury

-The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon

Vote now for the UKYA Book Blogger Awards Shortlist!

The UKYA Book Blogger Awards are OPEN! #awardukyabbloggers

Thanks again to all of the bloggers who've helped to promote this brilliant event!

Aditi @ A Thousand Words A Million Books

Amy McCaw @ YA Under My Skin

Andrew @ The Pewter Wolf

Annalise @ AnnaliseBooks

Aurelija @ myblinddatewithbooks

Chelley Toy @ Tales Of Yesterday

Chloe @ Writer-On-Wheels

Cintia @ Reflection of the Books

Emma @ Howling Reviews

Georgia Stencel @ The Books Bandit

Jesse @ thatjessebloke

Kaavya @ outlookonabook

Kaisha @ thewritinggarnet

Rachel Kennedy @ Ya-bberingBooklover

Rebecca @ Rebecca McCormick’s Authorial Blog

Virginie @ Chouett





Voting for the SHORTLIST is via Luna’s Little Library who is hosting the UKYA Book Blogger Awards this year. Just follow this link here http://wp.me/p2oSQx-3Vy


The voting closes on Friday 27th May 2016.


Don’t forget to share the love! #awardukyabbloggers



Congratulations to all bloggers who made the longlist this year!

 

UKYA Book Blogger Awards LONGLIST

Annalise - Annalisebooks

Ben - Benjaminoftomes

Beth – Bibliobeth

Charli - To Another World

Dani Reviews Things

Debbie - Snuggling on the Sofa

Denise - The Bibliolater

Emma - Howling Reviews

Hollie - Hollieblog

Holly - Lost in a Library

Huriyah & Nalisha - SugarQuills

Jenny - Wondrous Reads

Jessica - Paper Utopia

Julianne - This Fleeting Dream

Kaisha - The Writing Garnet

Katie - queenofteenfiction

Maia - maiaandlittlemoore

Miss Meira Dee

Nicola - Nicola Reads YA

Olivia Mitchell – Rewrite This Story

Rachel Kennedy - Ya-bberingBooklover

Rebecca - Rebecca McCormick's Authorial Blog

Rita - Weaving Pages

Sanne - booksandquills

Sarah – Feeling Fictional

Sophie - So Many Books, So Little Time

Stacey - The Pretty Books

YA Fictionados

Nominations are open for the UKYA Book Blogger Awards

I'm so excited to promote the fantastic 2016 UKYA Book Blogger Awards! Nominations are now open, so show your appreciation for your favourite bloggers by filling in the form below.

First of all, thank you to all of the bloggers who will be helping:

Aditi @ A Thousand Words A Million Books

Amy McCaw @ YA Under My Skin

Andrew @ The Pewter Wolf

Annalise @ AnnaliseBooks

Aurelija @ myblinddatewithbooks

Chelley Toy @ Tales Of Yesterday

Chloe @ Writer-On-Wheels

Cintia @ Reflection of the Books

Emma @ Howling Reviews

Georgia Stencel @ The Books Bandit

Jesse @ thatjessebloke

Kaavya @ outlookonabook

Kaisha @ thewritinggarnet

Rachel Kennedy @ Ya-bberingBooklover

Rebecca @ Rebecca McCormick’s Authorial Blog

Big thanks to them and to Faye @ A Daydreamers’s Thoughts for letting Luna’s Little Library host this year.

Let us start!

In 2016 UKYA Book Blogger Awards there are 15 categories to vote in.

Please submit your nomination via the form below. You can nominate up to 3 Bloggers per category. Make sure to include both the Blogger and Blog Name to make it a valid nomination.

Nominations close at midnight on the 15th May 2016.

Don’t forget to share the love! #awardukyabbloggers

CATEGORIES:
*Best Blog Design*
*Best Feature*
*Best Newcomer*
under 1 year
*Best Growing Blogger*
1-3 years
*Best Oldtimer*
3years+
*Best on Social Media*
be is Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tumblr, etc… The Blogger in question doesn’t have to be on all types of social media, they can be you favourite on Twitter for example.
*Best Booktuber*
*Best Overseas Blogger*
*Marvellous Blogger Award*
combining the Sweetest & Friendliest Blogger category
*Best Team / Co-op Blog*
*Best Female Blogger*
*Best Male Blogger*
*Blogger Spirit Award*
combining the Most Enthusiastic & Most Passionate category from 2015
*Best Teen Blogger*
*Best Adult Blogger*

Love Song by Sophia Bennett Review

Publisher: Chicken House Limited (6th April 2016)

Seventeen-year-old Nina doesn't get why everyone's obsessed with The Point - but when she averts a backstage disaster and is offered a job on tour, she can hardly turn it down. She quickly learns that being with the hottest band on the planet isn't as easy as it looks: behind the scenes, the boys are on the verge of splitting up. Tasked with keeping an eye on four gorgeous but spoiled rock stars, Nina's determined to stick it out - and not fall for any of them ... (Publishers' Blurb)

I was so excited to win this in a competition (thank you @maximumpopbooks) as I'd read a lot of hype about it on Twitter. This book was exactly what I needed to read during the unusually sunny UK weather - it was addictive, romantic and so much fun! I really wish teenage me had been able to read this. As it was, I fell in love with the Point Boys (especially the lead singer Jamie - yes I know I'm a cliche.) This would have been the best book of my teenage years.

One of my favourite things was that this was the ultimate in wish fulfillment. What teenager (and -ahem- some adults) hasn't obsessed about a celebrity at some point? I got really caught up in the whirlwind of Nina's life and somehow became convinced that this was a plausible sequence of events.

Another aspect that I loved was the original song lyrics. They were really well-written and I loved how they reflected the plot.

I have read books with similar plots but without the same emotional depth. This book balanced some serious issues with irresistible romance and I enjoyed everything about it!





If you liked the sound of this, now try these:

-Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols
-Between the Lines by Tammara Webber
-The Stargazer series by Jennifer Echols (which I think might have adult content if I remember correctly)

Iron Fist Blog Tour - Andy Briggs Interview and review

The Rules: if you find a secret inventory of utterly deadly battle tech.

1) Do not try it.
2) Do not tell anyone.
3) Do NOT let thieves in behind you.

What’s more secret than top-secret? The Inventory. Home to the deadliest inventions the world isn’t ready for. Invisible camouflage. HoverBoots. Indestructible metals. Plus a giant creature of chaos: war robot Iron Fist. No one has ever broken past the state-of-the-art AI security system. (Seriously, most bad guys have no idea this stuff is even there.)

Problem 1: the security robot wasn’t ready for a gang of kids wandering in.
Problem 2: they’ve ONLY brought the ruthless Shadow Helix gang in behind them. Seriously dumb, but it’s a bit late for ‘sorry’.

Say hello to trouble: the Iron Fist is in the wrong hands!

Title: The Inventory: Iron Fist (The Inventory #1)
Author: Andy Briggs

Release Date: 5th May 2016
Genre: MG Sci-Fi / Adventure
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29919809-the-inventory
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Iron-Fist-Inventory-Andy-Briggs/dp/1407161792


I'm so excited to kick off the 'Iron Fist' blog tour today and to host an interview with the author Andy Briggs. This is a brilliant, action packed middle grade for people who love Alex Rider and Percy Jackson as much as I do!

Please check out the interview and my glowing review below.

As technology plays such an important role in the book, what invention would you like to become a reality?

There are so many inventions I would like to see become a reality – such as teleportation (which would save me driving everywhere), jet-packs (if I don’t have a teleporter, then it would make flying a whole lot more fun)… or something to make me invisible!

But that’s a rather self-centred view because technology is probably our only hope in saving the world, and we are slowly making progress. Imagine generators that could create water out of thin air in arid famine hit regions – well, they are being prototyped. Or advanced purifiers that turn polluted water into drinking water – we have them. It extends to clean energy and other excellent inventions that make the world a better place, rather than merely a convenient one.

What was your favourite book as a child?

There are many, many books I loved. The Hobbit, Stig of the Dump, Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World, to name just a few. However, if pressed, if asked about ANY book, then there is one book, one series, that you probably have never heard about and it’s sadly out of print. The series is called Captain Cobwebb, written by Gordon Boshell. In particular, Captain Cobwebb and the Red Transistor is the one book that comes to mind. I remember my brother getting if for me from the library when I had chicken pox. He delivered it by flinging the book from the doorway so he didn’t have to breathe my germs. And when I read it, it was a wondrous extraction from the real world.

Do you have any writing or editing rituals?

I really had to think about this question as I didn’t think I did… but it turns out I do. When I start a project I always like to get myself a little present – a toy, figure, cool Lego kit – something that is vaguely connected to what I am doing. It provides a visual stimulus and, when I am stuck for ideas, something to play or chase the cats with. I also drink copious amounts of tea when writing. In fact it’s rare not to find a huge mug of tea next to my laptop. I love movie soundtracks and I create playlists that I listen to when I write, nothing with lyrics in, it has to be instrumental. I often find myself going back to particular tracks when I am writing action, or switching to something slower for more emotional moments.

If you could meet any author, who would it be?

I think my perfect author meet would be with the amazing Michael Crichton, who wrote Jurassic Park and sadly passed away in 2008. He had a superb grasp of technology and such a diverse range of interests that clearly impacted his writing He’s something of a role model for me! Despite his fierce imagination, I believe his best book was a non-fiction title called Travels. I heartily recommend it.

Have you got any ideas for your next project?

Too many. I have just written the first draft of the second Inventory book, out later this year, and will be starting book 3 soon. However, I have a couple of scripts I want to get done and have an idea for a new MG book I have wanted to write for a while now. It has had plenty of time to digest in my head, now I need to get it onto the page! Sadly, I can’t really tell you the details of any of them!

If you could be friends with any of the characters in Iron Fist, who would you choose?

Well, Dev is the main hero in the series and he’s something of an unusual boy with an odd gift – so he would be an interesting friend to have. However, Lot is the daughter of an Air Force test pilot and she is the kind of girl who doesn’t take any nonsense and is a bit of a thrill seeker. I think she’d be terrific fun… if a little scary sometimes.


Now for the review...


A couple of years ago, I went through an obsessive middle grade action phase and read every Percy Jackson, Alex Rider and Artemis Fowl book. Since then, I’ve had a serious drought in this genre (until now). Iron Fist hooked me in right from the start and I gobbled it up in two nights.

There were so many great things about this book.

My favourite aspect was the multiple third person viewpoints. I love seeing unexpected perspectives such as friends of the main character and villains. I haven’t come across this in much middle grade that I’ve read and if it’s done this well I’d like to see more of it!

This leads onto my other favourite aspect – the characters. There was a brilliant and unpredictable cast to choose from, especially Lot. She flies planes and is all around tough and fearless (reminding me at times of Rey and Katniss).

I’m not always a fan of technology in books because I generally don't understand it. In ‘Iron Fist’ the technology seamlessly blended actual inventions with fictitious ones. I loved how the tech in this book was both accessible and integral to the plot. It made this book feel really creative and unique.

I’ve found it hard to think of anything I didn’t like about the book. The only idea that I came up with was that I would’ve liked to know more about the bad guys. Their backstories and motivations were hinted at but it might have been interesting to get to know them as well as I did the main characters.

This is my favourite middle grade book that I’ve read for a long time and I can’t wait for the next in the series! It's out today so buy it now!

The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead

Publisher: Razorbill (April 2016)

For a select group of girls, the Glittering Court offers a shot at a life they've only ever dreamed of, one of luxury, glamour, and leisure. To high-born Adelaide, whose wealthy family is forcing her into a loveless marriage, the Glittering Court represents something else: the chance to chart her own destiny, and adventure in an unspoiled, prosperous new land across the sea. After a chance meeting with the dazzling Cedric Thorn, Adelaide poses as a servant to join the crop of impoverished girls he promises to transform into proper ladies. But her familiarity with upper class life comes with a price: she must hide her identity from her new friends, mysterious refugee Mira and fiery former laundress Tamsin, and most importantly, from Cedric himself even though she s falling in love with him. (Excerpt from Publishers' Blurb)

I really wanted to like this one but I ended up having mixed feelings about it. 

On the plus side, I love frontier tales and the idea of characters venturing into lawless, unexplored lands. There was a detailed history and belief system that felt well thought out and impacted on the narrative. The minor characters were also really intriguing, including Adelaide's friends Tamsin and Mira. They were strong, tough women in a world where these aren't accepted qualities. Overall, it was a fun, breezy read and much of the plot kept my interest.

Although to some extent I enjoyed it, this superficiality was my main problem with the book. I was excited about a bold new frontier land and for me this aspect wasn't very developed. There was a lot of talk of battles and vicious tribes but it was always in the background. I also found the romance enjoyable but predictable. Adelaide fled from one loveless marriage into a process that would marry her off to the highest bidder. Women didn't have a lot of choices in this world but I couldn't see the logic behind her decision.

I would recommend this book if you want a light, romantic read but not if you want anything deeper or more original. There are similar books that I've enjoyed more (such as Matched by Ally Condie or the Selection by Kiera Cass). 

Radio Silence by Alice Oseman Review and Giveaway

Publisher: Harper Collins (25th Feb 2016)

What if everything you set yourself up to be was wrong? Frances has always been a study machine with one goal, elite university. Nothing will stand in her way; not friends, not a guilty secret – not even the person she is on the inside. But when Frances meets Aled, the shy genius behind her favourite podcast, she discovers a new freedom. He unlocks the door to Real Frances and for the first time she experiences true friendship, unafraid to be herself.

Then the podcast goes viral and the fragile trust between them is broken. Caught between who she was and who she longs to be, Frances’ dreams come crashing down. Suffocating with guilt, she knows that she has to confront her past… She has to confess why Carys disappeared…

Meanwhile at uni, Aled is alone, fighting even darker secrets. It’s only by facing up to your fears that you can overcome them. And it’s only by being your true self that you can find happiness. Frances is going to need every bit of courage she has. (Publishers' blurb)

It goes without saying that I read a lot of YA. ‘Radio Silence’ is by far the best YA I’ve read this year and in my top 5 of all time. I loved it so much that I bought an extra copy to give away and share the joy (details below).

I was slow to jump on this one because I’d read so much hype about it. Hype can be really off-putting, as I build a book up only to find that I just can’t get into it. Radio Silence is deserving of all the hype and more.

My favourite part about this was the voice. I can’t remember another book for teens that so accurately captures the teenage voice. This authenticity goes for the first person narrative and the dialogue, all of which struck me as super realistic. I remember those feelings of working out who I was and who I wanted to be all too well and this book captured that beautifully. Radio Silence delved into issues like gender, relationships and identity in a way that felt really authentic and honest.

Sometimes social media and technology can date a book but in Radio Silence they are used to create a rich, unique plot. Social media is woven into the narrative in a way that creates a snapshot of what it’s like to be a teenager in 2016.

I like to say something that I didn’t like about a book to give a balanced perspective but for once I can’t think of a single thing. I loved everything about this book and I can’t wait to see what Alice Oseman will write next!

Now for the giveaway! Simply follow me on Twitter (@yaundermyskin) and retweet the pinned tweet about this review for a chance to win. The giveaway is open internationally and ends Sunday 1st May, on which date I will let the winner know and announce it on my blog.


Good luck!

Tell the Wind and Fire by Sarah Rees Brennan - Review

Publisher - Clarion Books (5th April)

In a city divided between opulent luxury in the Light and fierce privations in the Dark, a determined young woman survives by guarding her secrets. Lucie Manette was born in the Dark half of the city, but careful manipulations won her a home in the Light, celebrity status, and a rich, loving boyfriend. Now she just wants to keep her head down, but her boyfriend has a dark secret of his own one involving an apparent stranger who is destitute and despised. Lucie alone knows the young men's deadly connection and even as the knowledge leads her to make a grave mistake, she can trust no one with the truth. Blood and secrets alike spill out when revolution erupts. With both halves of the city burning, and mercy nowhere to be found, can Lucie save either boy or herself? (Publishers' Blurb)

I received an advance reader copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

After reading the blurb on Netgalley, I was excited to be approved for this. The premise really intrigued me and I loved the concept of a book based on 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens.

One of the main strengths of this book was that the rationale behind magic was explained creatively and the world was as darkly intriguing as I hoped it would be. In places, the plot turned disturbing and I think this was necessary for the volatile circumstances of this world. The pacing and the author's writing style also kept my interest. Lucie's family background and her experiences of both light and dark magic were more of my favourite aspects.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It ticked a lot of my usual boxes, including the well-realised world, plenty of action and romance. There was just something about it that left me not quite as invested as I like to be. I think this was a combination of the plot feeling quite familiar and Lucie's character not fully winning me over.

I've read other work by Sarah Rees Brennan and I would read more of her books, although this isn't my favourite.

 

Starflight by Melissa Landers - review

Publisher: DISNEY-HYPERION (18 Feb. 2016)

Solara Brooks needs a fresh start, someplace where nobody cares about the engine grease beneath her fingernails or the felony tattoos across her knuckles. The outer realm may be lawless, but it's not like the law has ever been on her side. It's been a long time since Solara has believed in anyone, and Doran is the last person she expected to trust. But when the Banshee's dangerous enemies catch up with them, Solara and Doran must come together to protect the ship that has become their home - and the eccentric crew that feels like family. (Publishers' Blurb)

The blurb of this book ticked so many boxes for me - I love anything Western-like and the hinted romance was promising. I took it on holiday hoping for a fun, fast paced read and that was exactly what I got.

I haven't read a lot of YA set in space so this was a refreshing change. The sci-fi elements and the Western feel of a lawless realm complimented each other. My favourite part of this was the ship's crew: a flawed mixture of characters that were all interesting and well developed. The romantic elements were suitably drawn out and incredibly enjoyable (although a tad predictable). 

The dialogue in this book was another strength, as it was witty and believable (not unlike the TV show Firefly, which shares a lot of elements with this book)

This was a thoroughly entertaining, action-packed read. I'll definitely check out the Alienated series by Melissa Landers after reading this. 





If you liked the sound of this, now try:

Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Kindred Spirits by Rainbow Rowell - World Book day £1 book review

By: Rainbow Rowell

Publisher: Macmillan

‘Everybody likes everything these days. The whole world is a nerd.’
‘Are you mad because other people like Star Wars? Are you mad because people like me like Star Wars?’
‘Maybe.’
If you broke Elena’s heart, Star Wars would spill out. So when she decides to queue outside her local cinema to see the new movie, she’s expecting a celebration with crowds of people who love Han, Luke and Leia just as much as she does.


What she’s not expecting is to be last in a line of only three people; to have to pee into a collectible Star Wars soda cup behind a dumpster or to meet that unlikely someone who just might truly understand the way she feels. (Publisher's Blurb)




I'm a huge advocate of the World Book Day initiative. Schools across the country give out millions of vouchers that enable children to receive a free book or £1 off a book of their choice. It isn't often that I'm tempted to purchase a World Book Day Book as I can usually devour them in about an hour. Since this one was written by Rainbow Rowell, I couldn't resist.


I'm pretty new to the Rainbow Rowell fandom but she's now my favourite contemporary author (and Fangirl is my favourite contemporary book).


Kindred Spirits is a super sweet short story about two teens who connect over their love of Star Wars. I can't think of a more appealing book prospect than Rainbow Rowell plus Star Wars!


Even though the book is short, the characters felt well developed and the plot was really entertaining. Rainbow Rowell has this super power of making you really root for her characters, even the minor ones. For me, this is mostly because of the killer dialogue and the thought put into characters' back stories.


This book could not be more of a bargain and for only a pound there's no excuse to miss it!


My only criticism? I wish it had been a full length book as I wasn't ready to let these characters go.






If you liked the sound of this, now try:


-Everything by Rainbow Rowell. Immediately.

The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories by Angela Carter - Review

Publisher: Gollancz (1979) First Edition

I read this as my second book in the 2016 Classics Challenge. It is isn't something I'd usually review on my blog, as it's an adult take on various fairy tales. However, this is absolutely a book you should read if you want a different slant on fairy tales that is dark, literary and sensual.

Angela Carter's writing style is just brilliant! It shifted masterfully depending on the story and context, from the humorous Puss-In-Boots to the Gothic romance of 'The Bloody Chamber'. The descriptions were consistently evocative and lyrical, capturing the essence of the original fairy tales at the same time as twisting and flipping them.

My favourite story was 'The Bloody Chamber' based on the Bluebeard story by the Brothers' Grimm. This tale of a man who killed his former wives in a torture chamber has always horrified me! Angela Carter retold it from a first person viewpoint that made the story feel all the more immediate and horrifying. 

The book was organised in an intriguing way, with stories of similar origins being grouped together. At first I wasn't sure whether that might get a bit repetitive but I found it created a thread through the book that can sometimes be lacking in short story collections.

This has made me feel like dusting off my old fairy tale books, as well as giving me a good excuse to buy more books by Angela Carter!