Naondel by Maria Turtschaninoff

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 480

Publisher: Pushkin Children's Books 

Released: 6th of April 2017 

In the opulent palace of Ohaddin, women have one purpose - to obey. Some were brought here as girls, captured and enslaved; some as servants; some as wives. All of them must do what the Master tells them, for he wields a deadly and secret power. But the women have powers too. One is a healer. One can control dreams. One is a warrior. One can see everything that is coming. In their golden prison, the women wait. They plan. They write down their stories. They dream of a refuge, a safe place where girls can be free. And, finally, when the moon glows red, they will have their revenge. 

Trigger Warning: Rape, Abuse, Suicide, Depression, Miscarriage 

What I Have to Say 

The first of these books was okay. It was a bit slow, but it had a fairly good story. I liked it enough to want to read more, especially since Naondel is more of a prequel, showing the women who founded the Red Abbey. I was looking forward to seeing their journey and how they voyaged across to find the island. But what I got was just a lot of rape. 

I don't mind reading about rape any more than I mind reading about murder or abuse. If it's important to the story and written in a way that doesn't glorify it, I'm okay with it. But this book just had so much of it. There were about three girls in the whole novel who weren't raped. It was awful and I didn't really want to read on. This is a book about the oppression of women. I knew that going in. But there are other ways to oppress women. I expected a bit of abuse. I thought there probably would be some sort of rape or forced marriage, but this was just too much. Turtshaninoff didn't bother thinking of any other ways of oppressing women. I expected a feminist book about women fighting against oppression, but I honestly don't think this was very feminist at all. 

I'd also been looking forward to seeing the women sailing across the sea, maybe a bit of them setting up the island and working out the rules. I got about a paragraph summarizing their journey. I'd have rather this paragraph have been extended and made up the bulk of the book. 

There are so many ways they could have shown this book without so much detail about the rapes. It didn't have to be the way it was. They could have glossed over it, faded to black. Anything so I didn't have to read it all. But they didn't and so I hated this book. 

My thanks go to Pushkin Press and Netgalley for providing me with this copy for review. 

Following Ophelia by Sophia Bennett

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 400

Publisher: Stripes Publishing 

Released: 9th of March 2017 

When Mary Adams sees Millais’ depiction of the tragic Ophelia, a whole new world opens up for her. Determined to find out more about the beautiful girl in the painting, she hears the story of Lizzie Siddal – a girl from a modest background, not unlike her own, who has found fame and fortune against the odds. Mary sets out to become a Pre-Raphaelite muse, too, and reinvents herself as Persephone Lavelle. But as she fights her way to become the new face of London’s glittering art scene, ‘Persephone’ ends up mingling with some of the city’s more nefarious types and is forced to make some impossible choices.

Will Persephone be forced to betray those she loves, and even the person she once was, if she is to achieve her dreams?

What I Have to Say 

I feel this book really captured the feel of the Pre-Raphaelite spirit for me. Having had a small interest in the paintings and general history of the Pre-Raphaelites, I'm far from an expert, but I know a bit about them and I just felt that this was a good introduction to the artistic movement. 

Though I did feel that the whole scandal of it was a little tamed down. Obviously for younger readers, a lot of the things the brotherhood got up to would have been too much, but Mary was engaging in her own scandal as if it was nothing. For any girl to become and artist's model was a hugely massive scandal.Yet Mary was more worried about getting found out and losing her job. Her reputation was a small worry in her mind, but she didn't seem to think about the fact that even if she didn't do anything, people would assume she had. 

Aside from this one thing, the book was brilliant. I loved the story, I loved Mary's character and I loved the adventures of Persephone Lavelle. It was well told and had the right balance of the history, historical figures and pure fiction. 

This is definitely a great introduction to the world of the Pre-Raphaelites. 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Stripes for providing me with this copy for review. 

Mirror Magic by Linda Chapman (illustrated by Lucy Fleming)

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 160

Publisher: Stripes Publishing 

Released: 6th of April 2017 

Do you believe in magic?

Maia and her friends do! And when they meet the Star Animals, a whole world of magical adventure unfolds.

When Maia meets Bracken, a fox with indigo eyes, she is amazed at how beautiful and unusual it is. Then she realizes that she can hear the fox speaking to her! Maia and her friends are Star Friends – girls who can use magic to keep the world in harmony.

Maia’s older sister has started acting strangely and the Star Animals sense dark magic at work. Can the girls use their newfound Star Magic to help them put a stop to it?

What I Have to Say 

This is a cute series with such a good message at the heart of it. The Star Friends fight of bad magic and create a better world. In the case of this book, it's a mirror which puts feelings of jealousy and inadequacy into the mind of Maia's older sister. 

The animals are cute and the girls are diverse. Their magic is interesting as it takes on a different form for each other the girls. Whether it's healing, athletic skill or the ability to see into the future, each girl gets a power suitable for their personalities. 

I think that this is a great book of empowerment  and magic for any younger reader. 

My thanks go to Stripes Publishing and Netgalley for providing me with this copy for review. 

The Inconceivable Life of Quinn by Marianna Baer

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Pages: 384

Publisher: Amulet Books

Released: 4th of April 2017

Quinn Cutler is sixteen and the daughter of a high-profile Brooklyn politician. She’s also pregnant, a crisis made infinitely more shocking by the fact that she has no memory of ever having sex. Before Quinn can solve this deeply troubling mystery, her story becomes public. Rumors spread, jeopardizing her reputation, her relationship with a boyfriend she adores, and her father’s campaign for Congress. Religious fanatics gather at the Cutlers’ home, believing Quinn is a virgin, pregnant with the next messiah. Quinn’s desperate search for answers uncovers lies and family secrets—strange, possibly supernatural ones. Might she, in fact, be a virgin?

What I Have to Say

I adored this book so much. I wasn't sure at first how it would go, but I was happily surprised by how much of a discussion it was about believe and religion. It was really interesting to see Quinn and her friend consulting a priest and hearing about the different interpretations of the bible. It was also interesting seeing a character who was not at all Christian being the subject of the book. 

It showed every side of the issue. The people who called Quinn names and accused her of lying; the people assuming that she has some psychological issue and endeavor to help her find out what happened; the family, desperate to find out who the father is so they can find a solution to the issue; and of course the true believers who caused so much trouble. 

I also loved how much it was left open to the reader to believe what they wanted. It became such a beautiful book of magic realism and the ending was a nice satisfying ending while still leaving it up to the reader to decide what to believe. 

Quinn was such a great character and I'm so happy I got the opportunity to read this book. 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Amulet Books for providing me with this copy for review. 

Stargazing For Beginners by Jenny McLachlan

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 256
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing 

Released: 6th of April 2017 

Science geek Meg is left to look after her little sister for ten days after her free-spirited mum leaves suddenly to follow up yet another of her Big Important Causes. But while Meg may understand how the universe was formed, baby Elsa is a complete mystery to her. 

And Mum’s disappearance has come at the worst time: Meg is desperate to win a competition to get the chance to visit NASA headquarters, but to do this she has to beat close rival Ed. Can Meg pull off this double life of caring for Elsa and following her own dreams? She’ll need a miracle of cosmic proportions …

What I Have to Say 

This is a sweet, geeky and very touching tale. It shows how hard it can be when parents don't take care of their children as they should and the way that elder children have to pick up the pieces. Meg does a really good job of keeping her life together when she has every right to fall apart. And she even has time to learn a thing or two about the importance of friends along the way. 

The characters that McLachlan creates are so vivid. Meg and Elsa are very well defined and unique (especially considering Elsa is only a baby), but so is Meg's grandfather, Ed and the whole of Biscuit club. It's the characters I think that make McLachlan's books so fun to read. You really get to know characters who feel real. 

The friendships that Meg found felt really real as well. Even though there was some teacherly intervention at times, none of them felt force. It felt so real and believable to see them fall into friendship with each other. 

Though sad, this is also a very comforting book to read. I think I could read Jenny McLachlan's books forever. 

My thanks go to Bloomsbury and Netgalley for providing me with this copy for review. 

Journey Across the Hidden Islands by Sarah Beth Durst

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 352

Publisher: Clarion 

Released: 4th of April 2017

The traditional Emperor’s Journey is meant to be uneventful. But as the princesses Seika and Ji-Lin—twin sisters—travel to pay respects to their kingdom’s dragon guardian, unexpected monsters appear and tremors shake the earth. The Hidden Islands face unprecedented threats, and the old rituals are failing. With only their strength, ingenuity, and flying lion to rely on, can the sisters find a new way to keep their people safe?

What I Have to Say 

This was a really sweet coming of age story. It was a beautiful story of the bond between sisters as they fought to save their world. It had important messages at it's core about how people have to do things before they're ready to but how things will usually turn out okay. 

As an adult, I connected so much with this book. The messages are so important because I feel like you can never truly be ready for the things life throws at you. And maybe the idea that things might just turn out all right is a good thing to hear. 

The characters were really cool. I loved getting to know them and their distinct characters. It was good to see their strength and weaknesses complimenting each other. It shows how the ability to fight or a knowledge of history is not enough alone, but together they can do things that they can't do alone. 

This is a great book for all ages. 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Clarion for providing me with this copy for review. 

Miss Mary's Book of Dreams by Sophie Nicholls

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 320

Publisher: Zaffre
Released: 23rd of March 2017 

In historic York, Ella seems to have the perfect life. She's a published author, her bookshop is thriving, she's married to the man of her dreams and they've started a family of their own. 

But Ella is struggling. Motherhood isn't quite everything she imagined it to be, and she's worried that there may be cracks in her marriage. 

On the other side of the Atlantic, despite endless blue skies and a stream of eager customers in her vintage dress shop, Ella's mother Fabia finds that life in San Diego is not enough for her. She misses York, and can sense that Ella needs her, so she flies home. 

And this is when they meet Bryony. With a complicated life and secrets of her own, Bryony may have some of the answers they're looking for. 

Can Ella and Fabia help her find her way, whilst also working out how to find their own happily ever after?

What I Have to Say 

This book was magical. I didn't realize it was a sequel until I was quite a way through the book, so I haven't read the Dress, but I don't think I needed to. It seems as though it's set some time after the Dress and gave a good introduction to the characters, so it worked really well as a standalone. 

I loved way magic was woven into the book in much the same way as it was woven into the lives of Ella and Fabia. It was there, it was very present, but at the same time it was an ordinary story. A story of the hardship of motherhood and depression; a story of abuse and getting free from it and above all the story of family and friendship. Of the family connections between Fabia and Ella and of the community that Ella has built around her. 

I want to visit Ella's bookshop so badly. It seems like such a lovely place and the way it was conjured make it seem so beautiful and lively. I'd love to sit down and have a nice coffee and a read while the sun filters through the windows and Ella types away on her laptop and Grace plays in the dressing up corner. It just sounds so beautiful and peaceful. 

A lot of the books I read are sad, so it's not that often that I find a book I really want to just curl up and live inside, but this was definitely one of those. 

My thanks go to Bonnier Zaffre for providing me with this copy for review.