Akarnae - Lynette Noni

Akarnae – Lynette Noni

I first stumbled across this book when watching a book haul vlog on YouTube and i immediately wanted it in my possession so i could read it. The only downside was that this book is not yet accessible in the UK. So i scoured, and i mean really scoured the internet looking for sites where i could purchase this book and international delivery not be too crazy. All that searching finally paid off! The official Akarnae website had this book available to purchase, with FREE international shipping...it was clearly meant to be!

Akarnae is book one in the Meodran chronicles by Lynette Noni and it brings us a brilliantly creative world filled with magic and mystery. My review is quite limited as i like to keep them as spoiler free as possible.

With just one step, sixteen-year-old Alexandra Jennings's world changes--literally.

Dreading her first day at a new school, Alex is stunned when she walks through a doorway and finds herself stranded in Medora, a fantasy world full of impossibilities. Desperate to return home, she learns that only a man named Professor Marselle can help her... but he's missing.

While waiting for him to reappear, Alex attends Akarnae Academy, Medora's boarding school for teenagers with extraordinary gifts. She soon starts to enjoy her bizarre new world and the friends who embrace her as one of their own, but strange things are happening at Akarnae, and Alex can't ignore her fear that something unexpected... something sinister... is looming.

An unwilling pawn in a deadly game, Alex's shoulders bear the crushing weight of an entire race's survival. Only she can save the Medorans, but what if doing so prevents her from ever returning home?

Will Alex risk her entire world--and maybe even her life--to save Medora?

Firstly i will like to get this little point out the way. Yes the main location is that of a boarding school/castle, yes it has magical elements, and yes the main character has two best friends. But that in no means makes this a comparative book to the likes of Harry Potter, as it is a completely different world, completely different kind of magic and completely different narrative and direction.

Right from the start of this book we are thrown into the thick of it all, we don’t really know much other than Alex’s parents going away, meaning Alex has to up sticks and attend a boarding school away from home. We are instantly thrown into this whole alternative world, and straight into the action. 

I loved the pacing of this book, i felt like there were no moments where i got bored or willed the book along, as there was so much to learn and understand about the world of Akarnae, that i just wanted to take it all in and build this picture in my head. I do have to say i am a bit jealous of just how advanced this world is with technology and medicine. I really wish we could have a food replicator machine. Imagine that, what in my head i almost imagined as an Ipad on a table, selecting the food you want and it appearing before you.....Genius! When can we get one of those?

I adored the characters in this book. Alex was a brilliant main character, she had the humor, sarcasm as well as the bad ass vibe every leading lady needs. My favorite moment with her was when she was drugged up on meds, as well as drunk of a drink. Her friendship with Bear and Jordan was brilliant and they had a great banter between them. I also enjoyed that this first book was so focused on friendships. Especially enjoying the relationship she had with DC her roommate, even though this was not a friendly at times relationships, i loved the fact that Alex still considered her, even during the holidays. I really admired that trait about Alex.

I found the magic and history in this book amazing, each of the classes sounded fun...well maybe some of the classes, the idea of being battered and bruised whilst doing the same obstacle course over and over is not on the top of my list of things to experience.

Everything in this book drew me in, i loved where the story took me, i loved the mystery and magic to the world, especially the trippy library! I was absorbed into this magical world and i just could not put the book down. The ending was insane! It all just happened, everything kicked off and it has left me eager for book two in the series.

I would say if you enjoy a magical fantasy book, with great characters, and friendships, with the hint of humour too, then this is the book for you as i thoroughly enjoyed it.

I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Dream A Little Christmas Dream - Giovanna Fletcher

Dream A Little Christmas Dream – Giovanna Fletcher

 Dream A Little Christmas Dream is a short story following on from Giovanna Fletchers Dream A Little Dream novel released earlier this year. We follow Sarah and Brett almost a year on from where we were left in the last book, and see just where her and her friends all are around the Christmas time.

Seeing as this is such a short book (it took me less than half an hour to read) this review will also be a short one, as there is very little i can write about without ruining it for you all.

‘Sarah's doing great. Okay, her dreams might still be totally bananas but real life is definitely back on track. She's got a fantastic job, amazing friends and plans to spend all Christmas wrapped up with Brett, her handsome boyfriend.

But after another night of increasingly bizarre dreams, Sarah wakes to find her housemate suddenly announcing she's moving out. And later that day Brett begins to act strangely. He's clearly hiding something - but what?

Soon Sarah can't help but wonder if she's living in a festive nightmare. Will any of her dreams come true for Christmas?’

I loved this book, i am a massively festive person, and so anything that has even the slightest hint of Christmas in it, I will automatically love it. This book had all of the feels to it, warm and fuzzy, as well moments of madness and humour through Sarah’s crazy dreams, and crazy antics with her friends.

This book brought everything that we loved from the previous one, added some festive joy into it, and left us gripped and wanting more. I almost wish this was another full length novel. As finishing it so quickly, it has left me wanting more from Sarah and Brett, and each of their quirky unique friends, and the madness that ensues.

If you loved the previous book, then you will love this one too. All i can say is...I WANT MORE!

I have given this 5 out of 5 stars.

The Morning After Memoirs - Kate Michaels

The Morning After Memoirs – Kate Michaels

I received an ebook copy of this from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. I honestly am thrilled to have received a copy of this book, as it was a brilliant laugh out loud read. The story follows that of Jess, a 29 year old living and working in London, and her tales of dating, romance, and friendship. All of which were a laugh a minute.

‘Twenty-nine-year-old Jess wakes up on New Year’s Day a touch hungover and a whole lot confused. The man in bed next to her is not her boyfriend, Ben. In fact, she doesn’t even remember Not-Ben’s name. It won’t be the first time she finds herself in a questionable situation in a year that proves her new single-in-the-city lifestyle is far from the glamorous, Sex And The City world she’s been promised on TV. Between hacking through last year’s leg hair, accidentally snogging someone who may well be her cousin, getting hit over the head with a sex toy that isn’t even hers, and ending the night with a walk of shame into her parent’s garage, Jess’s single life is turning out more cockroaches than cocktails.

The Morning After Memoirs is the story of one woman’s search for love, meaning, and a low-calorie alternative to wine.’

I love nothing more than a good chick lit book. I am not sure if now that i am nearing on the age of 27 and starting to worry about how little i may have accomplished in my life, but i found that i really related to our main protagonist Jess. This book felt like a more modern telling story of a woman living in London, and the ups and downs that come with it.

Jess provided us with humour, drama and some brilliant adventures as she led us on her journey throughout the course of a year. I loved how we felt just as involved in her life as if we were one of her many friends. It made me want to be a part of her friendship group, that almost collective of sisterhood and the drama and stories that unfold within it.  Especially the many drunken nights out that occurred. Jess made this story very real, and her sheer bad luck was incredibly unfortunate, and yet brilliantly hilarious. One of my favourite bits without giving too much away about this story is of a particular walk of shame back to her parent’s garage (where she was staying) and struggling to fit under the gap she opened up, subsequently resulting in the neighbours believing they were being burgled!!

We see Jess go through a break up, move house, make new friends, get a new job, and have many hook ups on nights out. I loved her break down of new men as she saw them, listed as their name, height, eye/hair colour. Almost like a mini bio of each male as she weighs them up. It felt very Bridget Jones like to me, as i could almost hear Renee Zellweger’s voice at the exact moment, and i loved it.

I really enjoyed the writing in this book, it was a quick easy read, with so much underlying humour throughout that you cannot help but enjoy it. I will certainly be looking out for any more books by Kate Michaels.

I would highly recommend this book if you enjoy a good Chick Lit, filled with humour. Especially if you are a fan of Bridget Jones or that of Sex and the City, as this is a perfect medium between the two.

I have given this 4 out of 5 stars.

You - Caroline Kepnes

You- Caroline Kepnes

You is the first book I have read by Caroline Kepnes, and I was instantly drawn into wanting to read this due to the concept of the story. The premise to this story looked creepy, interesting and completely on the insane side. Yet something that 100% can happen, especially in this digital age.

‘When a beautiful, aspiring writer strides into the East Village bookstore where Joe Goldberg works, he does what anyone would do: he Googles the name on her credit card.

There is only one Guinevere Beck in New York City. She has a public Facebook account and Tweets incessantly, telling Joe everything he needs to know: she is simply Beck to her friends, she went to Brown University, she lives on Bank Street, and she’ll be at a bar in Brooklyn tonight—the perfect place for a “chance” meeting.

As Joe invisibly and obsessively takes control of Beck’s life, he orchestrates a series of events to ensure Beck finds herself in his waiting arms. Moving from stalker to boyfriend, Joe transforms himself into Beck’s perfect man, all while quietly removing the obstacles that stand in their way—even if it means murder.’

I came out the other side of this book not knowing what to think or feel, this is such an interesting and completely messed up book that even though I enjoyed reading it, Caroline left me unsure of how I felt. Especially about the characters, which I think is completely clever on her part.

To put it quite frank, Joe is a stalker, an obsessive and violent one at that. He meets Beck when she ventures into the bookshop he works at and from there he is hooked on her, and cannot get enough. With the likes of Facebook and Twitter so openly available for people to access, Joe is able to locate where Beck lives, and slowly but surely entwines himself into her life. This results in some rather shocking and disturbing moments, as well as some sweet ones which almost leave you rooting for him too. You may be wondering how those things can be in the same sentence, but the way this book is written, you have one bumpy relationship with Joe.

In the normal parts you could see through the negatives and see a man who just wanted to be loved and who was deeply in love with this woman, and to be fair Beck was a bit of a tease. I really don’t think she helped Joe and his ‘problem’ but then she wasn’t to know. When Joe was at his most creepy, I found it difficult to read, as some scenes were horrible, horrific even, the extremes he would go to just to be with Beck. But when he and Beck were together, you almost forgot about the bad things he had done, as they got on so well…but then the checking of the email would pop up and it would be straight back to creepy. I did like Joes character, I found him so interesting and I would love to know how he got to be the way he is now and  know more about his past (outside the bookshop and Mr Mooney). I was almost willing him to get better and to stop throughout this whole book, and he really was on a serious journey

Beck, I guess she was supposed to be the victim in all this. But I just did not like her one bit. She came across as such a push over with her friends, no back bone and completely reliant on them and Dr Nicky. At first I thought Beck was just a relationship lover, constantly seeking out a relationship to be in, typically leading her to the bad boys. However, as her daddy issues become more known we really get deeper into Beck’s mind set, from that of her stalker. As the story went on I grew to dislike her even more. Even to a point where I was getting annoyed at her for brushing Joe off, or lying to him…Joe…her stalker…the creeptacular guy!! We just had no idea if she was coming or going. I guess it became difficult to not become annoyed as it is written in first person from Joe’s perspective, so we are heavily involved in his story, and emotions.

Overall, You is an incredibly interesting read, I found it shocking in places, and yet was completely gripped and invested in the story too, it took me a day to read as I just wanted to know where the story was going, and just what conclusion would be had from it. I certainly wasn’t shocked by the end, which surprised me in itself. I feel like this is a perfect autumn/October time read, as it really is overly creepy, and also makes you hyper aware of just what you share on social media and just who can access it and see what you post.

I do have to say this book probably is not for everyone, and I know most will be shocked to read this, if not disturbed and maybe even offended, I don’t know. However I did thoroughly enjoy it, it is the first book of it’s kind that I have read, and I enjoyed every second of it, I truly was on the edge of my seat waiting for the next unexpected twist or turn that was thrown at us on this crazy journey we set ourselves on. Joe was the perfect psycho stalker.

I have given this 4 out of 5 stars

Queen of Shadows - Sarah J Maas

Queen of Shadows – Sarah J Maas

Queen of Shadows is the forth book in the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas, a series of which has gone on to be one of my favourites. Now with this being the forth book, this review really is quite limited. As i do not want to provide any spoilers for those who have not yet picked this series up...If you are one of those people, seriously, pick it up, it is a series you will not regret reading! 

‘No masters, no limits, no regrets

Celaena Sardothien is cloaked in her assassin’s hood once more. She is back in Rifthold, but this time she is no one’s slave. She must delve into her most painful memories and fight for her survival, while resisting a smouldering passion that might very well consume her heart. And she will face her former master, the King of Assassins, again- to wreak revenge for a decade of pain...’

This book was brilliant; it was everything that i was hoping it to be in the continuation of the series. We had the same characters from previous books, with viewpoints switching throughout to give us all sides of the spectrum in this dark and telling world. Sarah’s writing was incredible in bringing together this magical world, filled with horror, death and yet love and friendship too. 

Celaena was as bad ass in this as she was in previous books, returning to Rifthold, and dealing with Arobynn, the King of Assassins. Now i never got round to reading The Assassins Blade, the prequel to the Throne of Glass series. Now it is not a requirement to read it, there is nothing that says you need to read it to follow along with this story. However, in this book so many references were made to her time with Sam and Arobynn, and her younger years spent within his walls. All of which made me feel like i was missing out on a story. Sort of like when your friends have been somewhere and have a story to tell about it, but you missed out on it, so can’t really get involved or laugh along etc. It has made me more eager to pick up the prequel and give it a read. So i then have something to refer back to when Celaena talks about the clock that once stood on her mantle... *All the feels*

There has always been differing views on the ’ships’ in this series. So many people having their own preference, i have mine. I feel like this book really shook everything up, I’m not really sure how i felt about it really. I was upset at first...well more like devastated. But i am slowly coming to terms with the direction Sarah went, even if it was a bit begrudgingly at first. It will be interesting to see how other characters relationships develop. Especially with the introduction of so many more characters, with the likes of Nesryn and Lysandra. Both of who were brilliant introductions to the story.

I loved how there were so many strong, independent bad ass woman in this series, Sarah J Maas, seems to be pulling them out her sleeve and each one i love. 

We saw a lot more from Manon in this book, seeing exactly what was going down in Morath. The darkness that was taking place there, and witness the effect the Valg had and all their pure horror. I did struggle at first to get into Manon’s chapters, purely as i was more interested in what was going on with the characters in Rifthold, however as the book went on i did start to get drawn in. Especially with the big showdown between Celaena and Manon...which was EPIC!

There are so many revelations and shocks and turns in this book, i don’t think there was ever a point where you weren’t on the edge of your seat. Or the characters actually putting their own feet up and going ‘shall we have tonight off?’ it was just constant, and it was amazing. There were so many shock moments, one in particular with the Wyrdstone ring, my jaw full on dropped to the floor in that particular moment. The beauty with this book is that even though you are along for the ride, you actually have no idea what plans the characters have put into place, you know what the outcome is that they hope to achieve, but somehow, we are never given the full information for what should be going down. It is incredibly brilliant, and a credit to Sarah’s talent as a writer,  as you have no idea if all is going well, or if it has turned horribly wrong, which is truly what leaves you on the edge of your seat.

Queen of Shadows was brilliant, i loved everything that took place, and i am even more eager for book five, especially for how the forth one ended and where the fifth one should hopefully bring us. I am so glad that i stumbled across Throne of Glass, as i truly have no idea, knowing and enjoying the series as i do now, how i would have gone on never finding it, or reading it. It really is one of my favourite book series to this day, and i have read a lot. Sarah J Maas is an incredible writer, amazingly talented, and her imagination is by far beyond any limits possible. To bring us this world and characters to us. I honestly urge you if you have never read this series to pick it up, as you really would not regret it.

I have given this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.