Sunday, June 3, 2018

To Kill a Kingdom book review

To Kill a Kingdom book review
Book title: To Kill a Kingdom

Page number: 342

Date published: 6/3/2018

Date read: 3/6/2018

Genre: Fantasy/ retelling/ YA

Rating:5/5

Synopsis: Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.


The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of siren kind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?
My review:

Points on writing: The two points of view were easy to tell apart. Meaning when the author changed points of view you didn't get confused by who was thinking and speaking because they had definitive ways of speaking and thinking.

Plot: The plot was perfect, I didn't read the synopsis of the book which meant I went into the book blind. I feel like that was the perfect way to go about it. Going in blind meant I didn't realise it was a retelling until the change. I love retellings of fairy tales and the way this story was twisted and changed was the perfect amount.

Characters: Prince Elian - From the moment we met Prince Elian I thought he was going to be a spoiled rich boy, but he was everything but. He was selfless and caring which made him my favourite character throughout the book. He just wants to make the world a safer, kinder place, for everyone and he doesn't care how he has to do it.
Princess Lira - At first I kind of hated Lira, I feel like that is the point though. She is a little naive and annoying about humans, which I obviously know a lot about. But as she learns more I start to enjoy her more, she is witty and sharp-tongued which I love in a character. Her character development makes the story, how her opinions grow and change with her is very important and when she feels her heart beat against her chest made mine feel like it was going to explode.

Background characters - The relationship between Kye and Madrid is the best background relationship I think I have ever seen. They are both funny and Madrid has an amazing background story. These background characters build a huge part of Prince Elian's story, and they make the whole story even more interesting.

Ending: Perfect. I can't even describe how much I loved this ending.

Overall feelings and would I reread: I am going to reread this book. I loved the characters, every single one. The plot was perfect and the writing style was my cup of tea. There were only two points of views which isn't too many or not enough for the storyline.

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

The way I used to be by Amber Smith review

The way I used to be by Amber Smith review

Page number: 385

Date published: 22nd March 2016

Date read: 21/05/2018

Genre: YA/ Contemporary

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis:Eden was always good at being good. Starting high school didn’t change who she was. But the night her brother’s best friend rapes her, Eden’s world capsizes.

What was once simple, is now complex. What Eden once loved—who she once loved—she now hates. What she thought she knew to be true, is now lies. Nothing makes sense anymore, and she knows she’s supposed to tell someone what happened but she can’t. So she buries it instead. And she buries the way she used to be.
Told in four parts—freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior year—this provocative debut reveals the deep cuts of trauma. But it also demonstrates one young woman’s strength as she navigates the disappointment and unbearable pains of adolescence, of first love and first heartbreak, of friendships broken and rebuilt, and while learning to embrace a power of survival she never knew she had hidden within her heart. My review:

Points on writing: 4/5. Couldn't find any faults with the writing style but I can't imagine a 13-year-old talking the way the character was talking at the start of the book. The writing was very emotive and descriptive. The author did an amazing job of putting you through something you have never experienced.

Plot: 5/5 The plot is not about the rape, it isn't about the lead up for straight after.  This book is about how trauma changes you, about how going through something massive in your life, in this case bad, changes you and your relationships with other people. This book is about being in control and learning how to grow. If this was a rape book I don't think I would read it, but Eden changes as a person at 3 points in this book, before the rape, after the rape and after growth and that is what matters. After growth and defining who you are as a person.

Characters: 5/5 Eden, at first I wanted to do everything in my power to protect Eden. As the story went on I hated her a little and within the last 50 odd pages, I loved her. I wanted to wrap her in bubble wrap and ship her off to somewhere safe, the moon? But in the end, I loved Eden. It's her story and the author doesn't make Eden this sad little girl that got raped and then doesn't live. No Eden got raped and then she did some fucked up stuff but she healed herself and that is what matters.

Ending: 5/5 I cried in the end. It was the perfect ending. I don't think I have read an ending I have loved more. All the questions I had got answered but the ending still wasn't 100% which leaves you wanting more.

Overall feelings and would I reread: I read this book the morning before an exam, which was a silly thing to do no my part. I woke up and read it within a few hours and it was all I could think about for days. The plot was hard to read and if you are sensitive to rape stories I wouldn't recommend this book for you but I feel like every girl and her mother should read this. Actually, everyone should read this. I probably wouldn't reread this book, this is the kind of book you read once, it has a great impact but you don't reread.

Sunday, May 20, 2018

My summer TBR

My summer reading list

This is a list of books I want to read over my 4 month break from University. Some of these books are new, some aren't released yet and some are very old. 
First off this summer I am going away for two weeks, I'm leaving home on the 4th of June and will be back on the 20th of June at around 2am so that means I have lots of reading time. This is a trip to visit my friend who lives in another country so we will be very busy this time but I have roughly 6 hours total on planes and about 7 hours on a bus. This isn't including waiting times so I know I will have plenty of time for reading, I will be taking about 3 books with me on this trip. This is the list of books I am deciding from, (please help me narrow it down): 
This books are on my summer reading list so if I don't end up taking them on holiday I will be reading them over the summer. Once I get back from holiday my only plans are to do some course reading and work so hopefully that leaves lots of reading time. 
15 books I want to read this summer:
Leave a comment of books you want to read this summer! I hope you all enjoy the heat and the sun over the next few months and enjoy your time off school if you have school. 


Saturday, May 19, 2018

Burning Fire review


Date published:08/05/2018

Date read: 19/05/2018

Genre: Romance

Rating: 3.75/5

Synopsis: Unemployed schoolteacher Erin Jenkins is back in Portland, the town she hasn’t called home for more than a decade. It’s not the way she wants to spend her last days of summer: in between jobs and avoiding her mother’s snooping by escaping to the ice-cream aisle. But when the opportunity arises for her to accompany her brother’s best friend—her lifetime crush—to a wedding, summer gets a whole lot more interesting.
Firefighter and single dad Jake Bennett has built a nice, safe wall around his heart—no romance, no getting burned. That doesn’t mean he’s ruling out a fling. Considering Erin’s visit is temporary, they’re the perfect fit for a scorching no-strings one-night stand. Or two. Or five. Until the worst thing happens: Erin and Jake are feeling more. Damn that four-letter word.
Now their hearts are on the line, and when their smoldering summer comes to a close, it’s going to be harder than ever to put out the fire.


My review:

**ARC PROVIDED BY NETGALLEY. THIS DOES NOT AFFECT MY FEELINGS TOWARDS THE BOOK**

Writing: 5/5. The writing of this book was everything you should expect from a published book, the story was well written and no noticeable mistakes in the story. The story was easily pictured from the descriptive writing.

Plot: 3/5. The plot was okay, your typical romance story and it didn't have as much depth as I normally enjoy. Back plots are very important and you never really find out why Erin loses her job until it was brushed into the conversation about 20 pages from the end. I enjoyed learning about Jake's background but again you don't really learn anything about him and his past apart from the odd comment.

Characters: 4/5. I loved Jake, bad boy past but now a careful father. Everything you want from a man in a romance novel with a child. I find that a lot of romance novels with single fathers they brush the child aside halfway through the story and someone important to the storyline disappears but not here. When Bailey goes away for a week or so she isn't forgotten, she is still on her fathers' mind which is realistic. Erin was a little boring, but Jake made up for my lack of interest in Erin's life.

Ending: 2/5. I hate quick endings. I always feel that if a book has a short and quick ending it needs an epilogue but this book didn't. I am very nosey and want to know what happens after so an extra 10 pages just saying where they are and what they are doing a few months later goes a long way. There were still questions about Erin's job hanging in the air which is unanswered and very annoying because it was important to the plot.

Overall feelings: 3.75/5. This book was a quick read, did it in a morning. If you are looking for a short romance novel I would recommend this slow burn novel. I do feel like this is the kind of book I would only read once though.



Similar books: Birthday girl and Come as you are

Thursday, May 17, 2018

First post!

My first post
Hello, I am assuming you have found this post from Goodreads. I have a few updates. The main update is from now on I will be post full review of books on this blog. My Goodreads will still have short, condensed reviews with the full review linked. On here I will be reviewing ARCs provided via Netgalley and directly from authors. All my reviews are honest. Most of the books I review are bought by me for me, or gift from family and friends. I will always be honest and say if I have been provided the book from another source and it will not affect my review. 
You can request I read and review a book, recommendations are always appreciated. I always try to respond and interact with any comments people have to please do leave comments so I know how to improve my reviews. 
How I plan on reviewing books: My new lay out on of reviews will be designed around this. 

  • Book title
  • Page number
  • Date published
  • Date read
  • Genre
  • Rating
  • Synopsis on goodreads
  • My review: 

  1. Points on writing
  2. Plot
  3. Characters
  4. Ending
  5. Overall feelings and would I reread
  • Books I would recommend that are similar 
I hope these reviews are preferred than my current reviews and any feedback is much appreciated. Have a lovely day and I will be reviewing soon! 

To Kill a Kingdom book review

To Kill a Kingdom book review Book title: To Kill a Kingdom Page number: 342 Date published: 6/3/2018 Date read: 3/6/2018 Genre: F...