Wild Song by Janis Mackay

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 209

Publisher: Piccadilly Press

Published: May 2015

Thirteen-year-old Niilo's unruly behaviour means his loving parents sent him to Wild School, a young offender's unit on an island in the Finnish archipelago. Angry at first, eventually he comes to enjoy being there and builds a close relationship with his mentor, Hannu, who helps him face his demons and overcome his lifelong fear of water. But when Niilo hears Hannu is leaving, he is so upset he decides to run away. Escaping is one thing, but living alone in the wild is completely different and it tests Niilo to the utmost, especially as his fear of water still haunts him.

With the help of a seal, Hannu eventually finds Niilo, but on the way back to Wild School Niilo is thrown into the water and experiences a revelation that will change his life for the better. 

What I Have to Say 

This story was magical. At the start, I wasn't sure what to make of it, but I loved all the things about Laplander tradition and the Sami people. It added something really interesting to make it more than a simple coming of age story. It turned it from a story of an unruly misfit into a story of truama, identity and a touch of magic. 

I've never known that much about Lapland or Finland, so it was all a new field for me. But now I feel I want to know more. I want to hear the songs that the Sami people sing. I think Mackay portrayed them really well in the book, she made them something magical and ancient while still understandable to the average reader. 

I really liked Hannu's character too. He was so good for Niilo. Often I don't like stories about therapy, but Hannu's stories and attitude really made it something. 

Also, the seal. Every one should read it just for the wonderful seal. 

The Snow Kimono by Mark Henshaw

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 419 

Publisher: Tinder Press

Released: 9th of April 2015

On the same day that retired police inspector Auguste Jovert receives a letter from a woman claiming to be his daughter, he returns to his Paris apartment to find a stranger waiting for him.

That stranger is a Japanese professor called Tadashi Omura. What's brought him to Jovert's doorstep is not clear, but then he begins to tell his story - a story of a fractured friendship, lost lovers, orphaned children, and a body left bleeding in the snow.

As Jovert pieces together the puzzle of Omura's life, he can't help but draw parallels with his own; for he too has lead a life that's been extraordinary and dangerous - and based upon a lie. 

What I Have to Say 

I think this book was a little too literary before. I felt there was a lot of unnecessary parts of it. And I feel that the scene with the ice at the start was a little annoying because there was never really a revelation to it. 

I felt that Jovert's character was just unnecessary, I liked some of the scenes with him in, but I honestly think it would have been a better book without him in it. He didn't really add much to the story and I was more interested in Omura's story. Jovert's parts were mostly just filler until we got back to Omura. 

But the writing was beautiful and when I was reading Omura's parts, I was completely enthralled. I loved the mystery of it all, the retrospection and sad feel of it. And I enjoyed the twists at the end, although there was one (which I won't spoil) which was a bit creepy. The twist about Omura's identity was really good and only slightly expected though. 

I probably won't read any more from the author, but I enjoyed this book. 

Sunbolt by Intisar Khanani

Summary (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 142

Publisher: Purple Monkey Press

Released: 17th of June 2015

The winding streets and narrow alleys of Karolene hide many secrets, and Hitomi is one of them. Orphaned at a young age, Hitomi has learned to hide her magical aptitude and who her parents really were. Most of all, she must conceal her role in the Shadow League, an underground movement working to undermine the powerful and corrupt Arch Mage Wilhelm Blackflame.

When the League gets word that Blackflame intends to detain—and execute—a leading political family, Hitomi volunteers to help the family escape. But there are more secrets at play than Hitomi’s, and much worse fates than execution. When Hitomi finds herself captured along with her charges, it will take everything she can summon to escape with her life.

What I Have To Say 

I requested this on a whim on Netgalley, not really thinking it would live up to how good it sounded, but it was one of those books where I've been pleasantly surprised. 

While being slow to really get into the plot, it developed into a lovely fantasy novel, with and interesting world that is fun to explore. I really want to see more of the magic system and the authority of the mages, because it seemed really interesting from what I saw. 

I think that this book was far to short to be honest. I barely had gotten absorbed in the world before it was over and I just wanted to read more. I want to know all of the unanswered questions about Hitomi's parents. 

I hope the next book is out soon! 

Liberty's Fire by Lydia Syson

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 348 

Publisher: Hot Key Books

Released: 7th of May 2015

Paris, 1871. Four young people will rewrite their destinies. Paris is in revolt. After months of siege at the hands of the Prussians, a wind of change is blowing through the city, bringing with it murmurs of a new revolution. Alone and poverty-stricken, sixteen-year-old Zephyrine is quickly lured in by the ideals of the city's radical new government, and she finds herself swept away by its promises of freedom, hope, equality and rights for women. But she is about to fall in love for a second time, following a fateful encounter with a young violinist. Anatole's passion for his music is soon swiftly matched only by his passion for this fierce and magnificent girl. He comes to believe in Zephyrine's new politics - but his friends are not so sure. Opera-singer Marie and photographer Jules have desires of their own, and the harsh reality of life under the Commune is not quite as enticing for them as it seems to be for Anatole and Zephyrine. And when the violent reality of revolution comes crashing down at all their feet, can they face the danger together - or will they be forced to choose where their hearts really lie? 

What I Have To Say 

This book made me want to re-watch Les Mis so badly. It was a similar kind of story, not just because of the barricades but because of the love and rebellion and the fact that they believe so strong in their cause. 

The characters were so strong and different. I don't think there was a character I didn't like! The historical backdrop was really vividly written and it was very easy to get a feel for the camaraderie  and enthusiasm from the people of France at this time. This came especially from Zephyrine and her friends. 

I loved the fact that one of the characters was a photographer as well. It was really cool to get an insight into what the cameras were like at that time and how much of an effort went into every shot. 

This is a beautiful tale of French Rebellion. 

Read Me Like a Book by Liz Kessler

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Pages: 297
Publisher; Indigo
Released: 14th of May 2015

Ashleigh Walker is in love. You know the feeling - that intense, heart-racing, all-consuming emotion that can only come with first love. It's enough to stop her worrying about bad grades at college. Enough to distract her from her parents' marriage troubles. There's just one thing bothering her . . .

Shouldn't it be her boyfriend, Dylan, who makes her feel this way - not Miss Murray, her English teacher?

 What I Have To Say 

This was a really beautiful story. It dealt with so many things. Obviously the sexuality thing was the main focus, but it also had the issue of getting through education and realizing that you have no idea what you're going to do with your life. Which is an issue that almost every teenager or Young Adult (and even a fair few adults) experience. 

It also dealt really well with divorce and the frustration of knowing that your parents need to sort things out but all you can do is listen to them argue. I felt it was really realistic. Especially interesting was her coping mechanisms and how her relationship with Dylan factored into it all, because she did really like Dylan. 

I loved her friend Kat as well, even though I think she was a bit harsh to Ash during their argument. I loved their strong friendship and how Kat knew Ash needed to face things. There was also so much subtext in what Kat said during the initial argument. So much that I could see from the things Kat wasn't saying or was starting to say. It felt a lot deeper and cleverer than a lot of books I read where the arguments are spelled out quite clearly. 

I think this is going to be one of my favourite contemporaries for this year. 

The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow by Katherine Woodfine

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 320

Publisher: Egmont

Released: 4th of June 2015

You are cordially invited to attend the Grand Opening of Sinclair’s department store!

Enter a world of bonbons, hats, perfumes and MYSTERIES around every corner. WONDER at the daring theft of the priceless CLOCKWORK SPARROW! TREMBLE as the most DASTARDLY criminals in London enact their wicked plans! GASP as our bold heroines, Miss Sophie Taylor and Miss Lilian Rose, CRACK CODES, DEVOUR ICED BUNS and vow to bring the villians to justice…

What I Have to Say 

This was perfect. A beautiful, intricate mystery set in an unusual  and lively setting with a group of fun characters. And each section starts with lovely illustration of hats for all kinds of different occasions. What more could you ask for? 

I think Middle Grade mystery is one of my favourite genres at the moment. There's so many amazing books coming out at the moment. The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow is one of the best. I just want the next book now so that I can read more from Billy, Sophie and Lil. 

Also, that ending! It kept me attached to my tablet for about ten minutes while trying to get home from the station! 

Really cannot wait for the next book. 

Book Haul #9

More lovely post this week! All are paper and all are from Hot Key Books. Synopses from Goodreads.

Libery's Fire by Lydia Syson

Paris, 1871. Four young people will rewrite their destinies. Paris is in revolt. After months of siege at the hands of the Prussians, a wind of change is blowing through the city, bringing with it murmurs of a new revolution. Alone and poverty-stricken, sixteen-year-old Zephyrine is quickly lured in by the ideals of the city's radical new government, and she finds herself swept away by its promises of freedom, hope, equality and rights for women. But she is about to fall in love for a second time, following a fateful encounter with a young violinist. Anatole's passion for his music is soon swiftly matched only by his passion for this fierce and magnificent girl. He comes to believe in Zephyrine's new politics - but his friends are not so sure. Opera-singer Marie and photographer Jules have desires of their own, and the harsh reality of life under the Commune is not quite as enticing for them as it seems to be for Anatole and Zephyrine. And when the violent reality of revolution comes crashing down at all their feet, can they face the danger together - or will they be forced to choose where their hearts really lie? 

Already finished this book so I won't say much, but a really interesting setting. Such a lovely cover too!

Wild Song by Janis Mackay

Thirteen-year-old Niilo's unruly behaviour means his loving parents sent him to Wild School, a young offender's unit on an island in the Finnish archipelago. Angry at first, eventually he comes to enjoy being there and builds a close relationship with his mentor, Hannu, who helps him face his demons and overcome his lifelong fear of water. But when Niilo hears Hannu is leaving, he is so upset he decides to run away. Escaping is one thing, but living alone in the wild is completely different and it tests Niilo to the utmost, especially as his fear of water still haunts him.

With the help of a seal, Hannu eventually finds Niilo, but on the way back to Wild School Niilo is thrown into the water and experiences a revelation that will change his life for the better.

Finished this one just yesterday, but another really interesting book and look at that cover! So cool. 

Tribute by Ellen Renner

What if your greatest enemy was yourself?

Zara is a mage, one of the elite in a world where magic is power, and the non-magic majority live as slaves. When her slave child best friend is killed for the crime of literacy, Zara seeks revenge by spying for the rebel Knowledge Seekers. She finds her bravery and magical skill tested to the limit when a young Maker, Aidan, is taken hostage in a bid for supposed peace. Surprised by first love, she promises to help him. But before Zara can keep her promise, her secret is discovered. Hunted by her own, she seeks refuge with the Knowledge Seekers. But when you can kill with a thought, can you ever be trusted? Pain, romance, defiance and revenge combine in this powerfully written - and breathtakingly envisioned - YA fantasy.

I've been thinking of looking into this series for a while as I've heard good things about it. So excited to read it! 

Thank you so much Hot Key! 

Delicate Monsters by Stephanie Kuehn

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Pages: 240

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Released: 9th of June 2015 

When nearly killing a classmate gets seventeen-year-old Sadie Su kicked out of her third boarding school in four years, she returns to her family’s California vineyard estate. Here, she’s meant to stay out of trouble. Here, she’s meant to do a lot of things. But it’s hard. She’s bored. And when Sadie’s bored, the only thing she likes is trouble.

Emerson Tate’s a poor boy living in a rich town, with his widowed mother and strange, haunted little brother. All he wants his senior year is to play basketball and make something happen with the girl of his dreams. That’s why Emerson’s not happy Sadie’s back. An old childhood friend, she knows his worst secrets. The things he longs to forget. The things she won’t ever let him.

Haunted is a good word for fifteen-year-old Miles Tate. Miles can see the future, after all. And he knows his vision of tragic violence at his school will come true, because his visions always do. That’s what he tells the new girl in town. The one who listens to him. The one who recognizes the darkness in his past. 

But can Miles stop the violence? Or has the future already been written? Maybe tragedy is his destiny. Maybe it’s all of theirs. 

What I Have To Say 

This book was definitely not my kind of book. I don't really like this. Books where they seem to intend to be graphic or shocking. Books where they have random masturbation for no apparent reason other than the fact that they want to shock the readers. Although in this particular instance I can forgive the masturbation because it was a fairly big plot point. But I never in any instance care about the fact that a character doesn't want to wipe themselves after going to the toilet because she likes the feeling of warmth between her legs. That was unnecessary and completely un-needed and I never want to read a sentence like that in a book again. 

Honestly I think that's all that needs to be said about this book. The writing was good and I had no objections to the plot other than the fact that it wasn't really for me. 

Shadow, Shadow by V. B. Marlowe

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 203

Publisher: All Night Reads

Released: 16th February 2015

"The four of you have been blessed with a great gift. Well, it's a gift for you, but a curse for someone else." 

Harley receives a mysterious gift on her sixteenth birthday--a shadow box. The box gives her the power to trade someone to the shadows, meaning they will disappear and cease to exist. Harley can't imagine doing such a horrible thing and is warned that using the box comes at a price. Unfortunately, not using the box can be even more costly. Harley must make this life-altering decision as she discovers frightening revelations about the town she calls home.

What I Have To Say 

I honestly thought this wouldn't be good, but when I'm curious about a book on Netgalley, even if it looks terrible, I like to give them a go. And this is the sort of book that makes it all worthwhile because I really enjoyed it. 

The characters felt like they were blending together a bit too much, especially the two girls. I did find that I got a bit lost with which characters' voice I was reading. But I really liked Harley. Even though she seems like the typical "troubled teen" character, I felt that she was interesting and that there was more to her than met the eye. I found the thing with Nash were especially interesting. 

It was an enjoyable story, with a really good plot. There are a few things that I'm slightly worried may have been lost during the writing, but they could also be being saved for the sequel so I'm going to withhold my judgement on that until I've read the next book. 

This really was a pleasant surprise, I'm so happy that I decided to give it a go. 

Countdown to 7th of May: Guest Post: Kiera O'Brien

Millie Versus the Machines and boarding schools

I’m pretty sure everyone in the whole world has at some point read a boarding school book. Even if there are still people who haven’t read Harry Potter (and there aren’t), there are also Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers and the Twins at St Clare’s, the (criminally underrated) Trebizon books and more recently Robin Stevens’ Wells & Wong series. As a child going to boarding school was my absolute dream. The appeal for young readers seems to be down to a) no parents b) hanging out with your friends all day while c) either learning magic, solving mysteries, playing overly elaborate pranks on teachers or beating the everloving crap out of each other at hockey.

I chose to set my debut novel Millie Versus The Machines in a boarding school in 2099 because the main character, Millie, needed to be isolated from the rest of society as she starts to wonder if the robots, or units, that cook for and clean up after all the pupils, are plotting something. In London, the units rights act is about to be passed, granting unit workers the same rights as humans, and when Millie’s friends start disappearing from their dormitories overnight she becomes convinced the units plan to rise up against the humans. Millie’s boarding school, Oaktree, is run by the Company, which her parents work for, and is home to the children of the most privileged executives. As pupils, they’re being educated and trained to take over the same roles at the Company when they reach adulthood.

Despite being set in the future, it seemed natural that Oaktree would have been created in the image of all those Blyton classics- the pupils sleep in dorms, they play lacrosse and they (pretend to) revise for hours in the library. But as it’s set nearly 100 years in the future there are also a lot of opportunities to play around with the traditional setting. Units aside, all the pupils have access to social media through their embedded IndexChips (I swear, I wrote it before Google Glass became a thing). They can also download live feeds from their brains and share them with others. Instead of midnight feasts, all the pupils eat mudge, designed to give them exactly the right amount of nutrients, and every day their intelligent wardrobes produce brand new, custom-sized clothes for them.

Millie’s school is a safe haven and a paradise for any thirteen-year-old. So when that security and safety is threatened by the presence of the units, she starts to question her whole world inside its boundaries.