Monday 8 August 2016

Review: Exodus in Confluence by Bryant A Loney


I received this ebook from Verona Booksellers in exchange for an honest review.

Five months into the zombie apocalypse, seventeen-year-old Stephen Hart lived in a society where rules and humanity had left him for dead. The remaining survivors clung feverishly to whatever hope remained—maybe it was a family member, or a religion, or a destination. But in less than one week, everything changed. (And so the cycle repeats.)

A year later, his ramshackle settlement has been compromised, as evidenced by the hordes of the undead swarming inside the gates... and Stephen is to blame. Instead of running, he takes to the airwaves, using the transmission in the now-abandoned radio station to broadcast his story via speakers to his fleeing citizens. This way, maybe he won't look like such a total monster.

With the clock running out, venture into Stephen's post-apocalyptic world, where circumstances can make us become something other than ourselves. 

So I generally don't read a lot of novellas, in fact I think this must be the second one I've ever read, but I really enjoyed it! I read the entire short story on my plane journey to Portugal and it definitely kept me interested and held my attention. As it's a short story, I don't want to say too much about the plot as the events unfold pretty quickly. However, I will say that I would recommend it to fans of The Walking Dead or other zombie enthusiasts and anyone whose looking for a short, easy but exciting read this summer.

Maybe it's just the fact that I'm not used to reading novellas but I did find the story a little rushed and found myself wishing that it had lasted longer! I felt the characters weren't very well developed and I didn't feel myself empathising with them but I understand that it is difficult to give characters the room to grow in a fast-pace action-filled novella. The plot itself wasn't the most unique and original story I'd ever read but it was still full of shocking and surprising moments so I never felt particularly bored with it. Despite all of this, at the end of the book, my opinion of everything I had just read completely changed. It's a plot twist I definitely never saw coming and my view of everything I had just read was turned on its head in an instant! I don't want to give away too much and spoil what was really the most thrilling part of the book but take my word for it when I say that it's worth hanging in for the huge plot twist! 

6/10

Sunday 17 July 2016

My Top 10 Ways To Get Out Of A Reading Slump

After reading maybe two or three books a week and finally enjoying my summer, disaster struck. I was suddenly experiencing every bookworm's worst nightmare: the reading slump. We've all been there, unread books taking over our shelves and to-be-read lists a constant reminder of all the books that demand our attention. Nevertheless, no matter how hard I tried to force myself to sit and concentrate, I couldn't get through my book for the life of me. It was insanely frustrating but a mixture of having way too many other things to do and just lacking the concentration necessary to appreciate my book made it impossible to get past chapter 2 in a whole week. So, to help myself and all other avid bookworms out there facing this so-called reader's block, I've compiled my top ten ways to combat a reading slump!

10. Read a book that doesn't require a huge amount of concentration


What tends to put me into a reading slump is lacking the ability at that moment to follow a complicated plot or a storyline with a lot of depth to it. The book series that never fails to combat this symptom of every reader's worst nightmare is The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer. I know that it's faced a lot of criticism for various reasons but it will always be my go-to series. I've always found it an easy read that hasn't required too much thinking into the plot but is still really enjoyable on the whole with a dark and glamorous set of characters that really come to life through the pages. It's essential to find an easy read like this if you ever hope to drag yourself out of a reading slump.

9. Read an old favourite


So your easy read has failed to cure your reader's block? Don't fret yet there's plenty of other things to try! Turn your attention next to an old favourite of yours and you'll find yourself reading at the speed of light again in no time. For me, turning back to the Harry Potter series always reminds me why I love reading and inspires me to pick up ten other books after. Rowling's creation is so beautifully magical and vivid, you'll lose yourself instantly and fall back into the wizarding world in no time at all. It'll be like you never left! 

8. Set aside time to read



Trying to juggle a hectic schedule and still finding the time to read can be extremely difficult and failing to do so is another major reason for the common book slump. To beat this particular symptom, I would suggest setting aside as much time as you can afford to reading and sticking to it daily, no excuses! If you devote anything from 10 minutes to an hour a day at a particular time, such as before you go to sleep or during a lunch hour, you might find yourself finally starting to read more. 

7. Go on a book haul!


Perhaps all it may take to defeat your reading slump is a little book haul! You may simply need to remind yourself of the beauty of books once more and there's no better way to do that than a little trip to your local bookstore or a spot of online shopping. Some fresh additions to your shelves may make reading seem more appealing rather than forcing yourself through your reading list!

6. Visit the local library


If you're struggling through a reading slump, the best place to visit might be the library! That way you can dip in and out of any book that takes your fancy with no commitment all whilst supporting your local library service and pulling yourself out of your reader's slump. Libraries often have new releases too so perhaps that book you've been waiting for months to be released will be waiting on the shelves! 

5. Stop reading the book you're struggling with and return to it later


If your reading slump has truly defeated you this time, there's no shame in putting that particular book aside and returning to it later when you're in a better frame of mind. Perhaps you need to admit that that book isn't for you? Or maybe it is you and you simply need to find a way back into reading before you find yourself flying through books in the same way as before.

4. Try reading in a new place


Forcing yourself to read in a cluttered, stuffy room may not be the most productive way to get through a book. Perhaps reading in an over familiar spot is making reading lack the interest it once had? A change of scenery might liven up your reading experience! Try reading in a local park, on a train, in your garden or perhaps in a different room. Changing where you read may change the way you read and could be key to combating your reader's block!

3. Take a break from reading


Maybe it's time to admit that reading at this moment in time is simply not possible? That's okay, it doesn't mean you're failing as a reader! Taking a break may make your return to reading as exciting as the first time you picked up a book. You just need to take time away from reading to remind yourself once more why you love it. Don't worry, you'll probably be back into it again in no time! 

2. Try to avoid reading more than one book at a time


If you're trying to juggle multiple books along with everything else in your life, no wonder you're finding reading difficult! If you've unexpectedly hit a reading slump, it may not be so unexpected if you've got five books on the go. It might be time to drop a few and focus on one for a little while. Perhaps that would take the pressure off reading and give your mind the space to concentrate on your current read. 

1. Try reading a graphic novel


If you're finding it hard to concentrate on an 800 page hardback novel, it might be time to pick up a graphic novel or comic book. I've always found them an easy read and I tend to read them far faster than novels. Death Note is a great manga series to start with, the plot and the mystery are just a perfect mix of a crime thriller and a dark contemporary YA read.








Tuesday 5 July 2016

Review: To Hear The Ocean Sigh by Bryant A Loney






















I received this ebook from Verona Booksellers in exchange for an honest review.
Jay Murchison believes he is a nobody at his high school in Oklahoma. Coming from a conservative family of affordable luxury, Jay has an overwhelming desire to become something great. After a mysterious girl named Saphnie in North Carolina mistakenly texts him, an unlikely relationship develops that affects Jay's self-perception and influences the rest of his sophomore year. This correspondence leads him to a group of thrill-seekers who provide a grand departure from the quiet life Jay is familiar with and eye-opening experiences to witness first-hand the truth behind the loose morals his fellow classmates have come to know.  
In a story filled with injustice, hope, hatred, love, grief, and understanding, readers will ask themselves what it truly means to hear the ocean sigh and learn of the dire consequences that come with its responsibilities.

Overall, I did enjoy this book and it read like a typical, coming of age YA book, which is the genre I like reading the most. However, I do feel that initially the story was quite slow to get into and I struggled to find myself gripped to the book and truly interested. I felt that some of the text conversations between Jay and his mystery text friend Saphnie, that make up such a huge portion of the book, were often unnecessarily long and slightly generic, adding little to the story.

Aside from that, I really loved the way Rudderless, a fictional book created for this story, tied all the characters together, despite their differences. It shows how books can be interpreted in many ways and gave a new meaning to each person who read it. It was quite clever how this was weaved in to plant the idea that perspectives can truly vary between individuals as this ended up being a key theme throughout the novel.

Another key theme that was presented quite interestingly was the difference in how we present ourselves to the world and the person that we believe we are. I think this was an important idea to be explored in a YA novel where the way others view us can be a huge worry for young adults. This book really did have some wonderful messages that I feel the majority of people would be able to relate to in their own lives. The darker and more emotional themes of the novel were sensitively approached, which made them easier to relate to.

The theme of religion and what it means to young people was considered in a fresh, interesting way. All of the teens found some comfort and advice at the Youth Club and it's where Jay begins his new social life. This was all unique in a way as religion is rarely presented positively in YA literature as many teens feign disinterest.

I found that the main character, Jay, could be frustrating at times as he was more of a spectator as everything happened around him, rather like Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby. I did, disappointingly, find him cringey and unrelatable all too often. He rather sadly came across as dull and boring and I found myself wishing the story had been narrated from one of the more interesting characters' perspectives, such as Saphnie or Lily. However, as the story progressed, I feel that Jay was given more of an opportunity to develop into a more real and less fictional-feeling character. Jay was so desperate to develop relationships and connections with those around him that I found it pleasantly ironic when all characters later appear to be connected in more ways than they realise.

I did like that all the characters were flawed in their own way as it give them more dimensions and aspects to their personalities. At times, I found that Jay's mother came across as unrealistically over-protective and those passages didn't blend with the novel well enough for me to find them relatable in the slightest. I also sadly feel that the girls in the novel weren't portrayed in a fair light overall as they were all either seen to be crazy, prudish or desperate for attention and obsessed with popularity.

That being said, the novel was enjoyable on the whole and sits nicely in the YA genre, making a great, quick summer read.
6/10

Wednesday 29 June 2016

My Top 10 YA Female Protagonists



So I wanted to share with you my favourite female protagonists from the YA genre because these women are strong, quick-witted, smart and brave. The qualities they portray inspire people to read and enjoy these books, perhaps even leading them to want to write themselves. Young people also realise that they possess these qualities and when they read about ordinary characters achieving extraordinary things it gives them the courage to do great things in their own lives. 


10. Tris Prior - Divergent by Veronica Roth


Tris is one of my favourite characters of all time. She has immense bravery and courage to rebel against the norm and her societal system while still valuing family above all else. Tris, despite harsh comments about her small size, trained herself up and worked hard to be one of the best initiates in Dauntless, proving everyone who had doubts in her that they were wrong. She faced her fears and overcame them continually. Tris' ultimate act of selfless bravery in the final book (Allegiant) summed up who Tris was as a person and I couldn't have imagined her choosing a different outcome, despite it breaking my heart. 

9. Cat Hunter - Take Back The Skies by Lucy Saxon


Cat has to make it onto the list because she is an independent girl who runs away from her upper class life, originally for slightly selfish reasons, but uses her new identity and position to help out those in need. She's smart, skilled and caring for those around her. Also, the steampunk-fantasy world that Lucy Saxon created was amazing and the detailed map of Tellus was part of the reason I enjoyed this book so much! 

8. Juliette - Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi


I love Juliette because despite  being timid and a little shy at first, she gains confidence and becomes more outspoken. She possesses a lethal power and learns how to control it, teaching herself not to be afraid of her own capabilities. Juliette is brave, powerful and unafraid to take risks, which are all qualities I definitely admire. 

7. Mare Barrow - Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard


Mare is on the list not just because of her powers but because of her relentless determination. She longs for the day when there is justice and equality among the Reds and Silvers and fights for this cause with admirable resolve. Mare puts her family first and does everything to protect them. She can be a bitter, harsh person but her sense of humour always balances this out. 


6. Emma Carstairs - Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare 


Like all shadowhunters, Emma is a fierce and skilled warrior. Her fiery temper and sarcastic tongue often land her in conflict, although she is a passionate and loyal friend to those close to her. Emma is faithful to the Blackthorns and aids Julian in bringing up his younger siblings. Her kind and soft side is always brought out by her friends and the Blackthorns, although she often hides her more vulnerable side behind a tough bravado. In battle, her quick remarks combined with incredible fighting skills tear down her opponents in a fashion matchable only by Jace Herondale himself. 

5. Katniss Everdeen - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins


Katniss is possibly one of my favourite book protagonists of all time. She embodies selflessness and bravery through all of her actions and the causes she stands for. Despite the threat to her own life by doing so, she leads a rebellion against a discriminatory dictatorship, fighting for justice and freedom of all people across Panem. Katniss is widely admired by teen readers not just for her courage but also because Collins paints her as an ordinary teenage girl thrust into an extraordinary, impossible situation. Katniss has a wild temper but her willingness to not stand by and watch the oppressive Capitol ruin the lives of the twelve districts' citizens make her one of the ultimate book heroes. 

4. Hermione Granger - The Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling
Hermione Granger by fridouw 
Hermione is brave, smart and extremely talented. She works hard at school, pushing herself to succeed and setting herself up for an amazing career in the future. She never makes rash decisions, always calculating the smartest move and planning ahead to make sure that she, Ron and Harry are prepared for any outcome. Her level headedness and intelligence make her stand out among the spontaneous, impulsive and often violent characters in the YA fantasy genre but Hermione is loved by Potterheads for precisely those qualities. 

3. Clary Fray - The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

Clary Drawing by taratjah
All of Cassandra Clare's readers adore Clary for her stubbornness that often leads to reckless behaviour when she goes to extreme lengths to prove that she is a shadowhunter by nature despite being raised among mundanes. Clary is creative and always has a sketchbook to hand so it goes without saying that her artistic qualities lend to her abilities as a shadowhunter and her powers with runes. She is caring and compassionate towards others, lending good advice to the young Emma Carstairs and always remaining loyal to family and friends.

2. Tessa Gray - The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare

Tessa Gray by smitth
Credit: http://smitth.deviantart.com/art/Tessa-Gray-330653964
Tessa is an intelligent and curious person by nature, devouring books and eager to learn about the world of shadowhunters that has existed right under her nose for her whole life without her knowledge. She has a warm heart and seeks happiness for those that she loves, determinedly searching for her brother and pushing away Will and Jem for fear of hurting them. Her character develops immensely over the trilogy but her caring side always remains. 

1. Celaena Sardothien - Throne of Glass by Sara J Maas

Calaena Sardothien by Lilith-Black
Credit: http://lilith-black.deviantart.com/art/Calaena-Sardothien-493537992?ga_submit_new=10%3A1415560406
Celaena had to be number one on this list because she is passionate about everything she is involved with, whether that's her job, friends or love interests. She is a skilled fighter and assassin. However, she loathes excessive cruelty and slavery in the kingdom and refuses to tolerate the injustices in Erilea. Celaena is an emotional person who often hides behind a tough bravado to maintain her image as Adarlan's Assassin but is still vulnerable underneath her thick skin. The fantasy world that Maas has created is absolutely mind blowing and I couldn't imagine a better protagonist than Celaena to lead the reader through the vivid land of Erilea. 

Wednesday 22 June 2016

Review: Maximum Ride Manga by James Patterson and NaRae Lee

Fourteen-year-old Maximum Ride, better known as Max, knows what it's like to soar above the world. She and all the members of the 'Flock' - Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel - are just like ordinary kids - only they have wings and can fly. It may seem like a dream come true to some, but their lives can morph into a living nightmare at any time - like when Angel, the youngest member of the 'Flock', is kidnapped and taken back to the 'School' where she and the others were genetically engineered by sinister scientists. Her friends brave a journey to blazing hot Death Valley, California, to save Angel, but soon enough, they find themselves in yet another nightmare - this one involving fighting off the half-human, half-wolf 'Erasers' in New York City. Whether in the treetops of Central Park or in the bowels of the Manhattan subway system, Max and her adopted family take the ride of their lives. 

I have never read the books that inspired the manga, however, after reading this, I'd really like to pick them up sometime! Lee's artwork and visuals are fantastic and captured the characters perfectly and this blended amazingly well with the gripping action throughout the story created by Patterson. I've only recently started reading manga but this has made me want to read more! The details of every scene were so intricate and every page looked fantastic. I was instantly captivated by the dramatic fantasy world that was created. 

I loved how the sci-fi fantasy element of their ability to fly and where that came from really added to the plot and weaved into the action-packed, tense and suspense filled story. I really enjoyed reading about Max as she was a feisty teenager who was simultaneously a mother figure to Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel. Her adventures along with the rest of her family were full of suspense but broken up with quick-witted remarks and side-dramas. Iggy and Gasman were pretty funny together and provided some much needed comedic relief when the story was getting too intense. I loved the ongoing mystery throughout the book as to why Angel had been kidnapped and I was desperate for her to be found as in the few pages she featured in she was just so likeable!

All of the characters in the book and their relationships with each other were so relatable and yet unique at the same time. The teenagers felt ordinary despite being quite extraordinary! This made it easier to empathise with the characters and understand their experiences. However, I would have liked a better introduction of the characters as I was often quite confused having never previously read the books. I also found it hard to keep up with the changing perspectives at times as there were many different plot lines running alongside each other and intertwining. 

I'm not sure how close the manga was to the book series but obviously it's only an interpretation so it won't be a carbon copy anyway. I would recommend this to someone who's maybe still just discovering manga and graphic novels as although I found the plot confusing, it was pretty short, easy to get into and the characters were well developed on the whole. Graphic novels, manga and comics are great to read between books if you don't have the time to read a whole novel. They are also great to encourage those who are a little reluctant to read to pick up a book. But I love them because I enjoy how the visuals combine with the action and create an amazing end product.
7/10 star

Tuesday 21 June 2016

Review: Dreamland by Robert L Anderson

Dea Donahue has been able to travel through people's dreams since she was six years old. Her mother taught her the three rules of walking: Never interfere. Never be seen. Never walk the same person's dream more than once. Dea has never questioned her mother, not about the rules, not about the clocks or the mirrors, not about moving from place to place to be one step ahead of the unseen monsters that Dea's mother is certain are right behind them. Then a mysterious new boy, Connor, comes to town and Dea finally starts to feel normal. As Connor breaks down the walls that she's had up for so long, he gets closer to learning her secret. For the first time she wonders if that's so bad. But when Dea breaks the rules, the boundary between worlds begins to deteriorate. How can she know what's real and what's not?

I was excited to read this book from the moment I picked it up! The idea of walking through other people's dreams intrigued me as it seemed similar to the movie Inception which I really enjoyed. Dreamland perfectly weaves together themes of loyalty to family and teen friendship into a fantasy world parallel to our own. It was so cleverly written that despite the intricate layers to this world, nothing was so outlandish it can't be imagined.

The countless plot twists and revelations throughout the entire story kept me gripped and the mystery of everyone's true identities meant that this book was never boring. With every new piece of information revealed to us as readers, there's always something else just out of our reach that keeps us guessing and turning another page. I equally love mystery and fantasy novels so luckily Anderson has combined these two  genres into an incredible YA book. The mystery of what really happened to Connor's mother and brother kept me hooked for the whole book.

The ever present question of what reality is and whether the world we live in is any more real than our dreams definitely gave me food for thought. The rules of the dream world were so realistic and ingrained in the book that I still shivered for a few days after finishing the book every time I glanced at a mirror or heard a ticking clock!

Every character in the book was well developed with many sides and all seemed relatable enough that you either know someone like them or could picture them in your own neighbourhood. Dea was an interesting protagonist and I really enjoyed watching her character develop from someone with a lack of friendship and many difficulties to a loyal, caring person who makes decisions independently yet selflessly. It was refreshing to have a female protagonist who was the right mix of self-sufficient and strong willed but realistic enough to be vulnerable and possess the ability to show emotions and break down as well, which was completely understandable considering the roller coaster of events Dea experiences. I think other teen readers like myself will find Dea quite likeable as she's got a fun personality thrown in with her signature sarcasm and dry remarks. However, she's also got an ounce of realism that many YA characters occasionally lack, particularly in the fantasy genre. Her passion for doing the right thing not only for those she cares about but also for herself was quite inspiring.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it's definitely worth a read. If you loved Mind Games by Terri Terry, I'd recommend this book to you.
8/10 stars