Review: Nemesis by Brendan Reichs

"This time I was going to fight for what I believed in, no matter the consequences. I was going to do something. I just didn't have any idea what."

Everything changes in an eye blink . . .

It’s been happening since Min was eight. Every two years, on her birthday, the same man finds her and murders her in cold blood. But hours later she wakes up in a clearing just outside her hometown – alone, unhurt, and with all evidence of the crime erased.

Across the valley, Noah just wants to be like everyone else. But he’s not. Nightmares of murder and death plague him too, though he does his best to hide the signs.

As the world around them begins to spiral towards panic and destruction, the two troubled teens discover that people have been lying to them their whole lives . . .

If you're going to read this book just be aware that if you pick it up you will not be able to put it down until you're finished. Just a heads up. Fast paced, packed with action and occasional violent scenes that will leave you shocked but gripped, I cannot fault this book in any way. Reichs lays out a plot so thick and well thought out, even the most observant readers will not notice it slowly building. Anyone who claims they saw any one of the plot twists coming is either Einstein or a liar, they are simply unguessable. 

I would recommend this book for anyone who loves a conspiracy or a mystery that will leave them guessing to the end, thrown in with suspicious authority figures, dodgy psychiatrist and army activity all happening in an unsuspecting sleepy American town, seemingly cut off from all of the strange events plaguing Earth.

This book features your usual suspects when dealing with high school age characters: a bully gang led by tough guy Ethan; outsiders and best friends Min and Tack with an "us against the world" attitude; and sheep like Noah who follow the crowd and find it hard to make decisions off their own back, even when it's crucial that they do.

It's hard to write a review of a book where so much happens but the key of it working is that all of that is kept secret from the reader until it is revealed on the page. So, for that reason I will say no more, other than you should really pick it up if you love The Maze Runner or the Gone series.

9/10

Review: Ms Marvel Volume 1 - No Normal

“Good is not a thing you are. It's a thing you do.”

Marvel Comics presents the all-new Ms. Marvel, the groundbreaking heroine that has become an international sensation! Kamala Khan is an ordinary girl from Jersey City - until she is suddenly empowered with extraordinary gifts. But who truly is the all-new Ms. Marvel? Teenager? Muslim? Inhuman? Find out as she takes the Marvel Universe by storm! As Kamala discovers the dangers of her newfound powers, she unlocks a secret behind them as well. Is Kamala ready to wield these immense new gifts? Or will the weight of the legacy before her be too much to handle? Kamala has no idea either. But she's comin' for you, New York!

Ms Marvel is the comic that this world needs right now. Kamala Khan smashes down stereotypes of young Muslim-American women and opens up the discussion about teenage identity. She is one of the most relatable female protagonists in Marvel comics; instead of being squeezed into a skintight catsuit or revealing bikini, she's in a practical costume and out there saving the neighbourhood. She struggles between following the strict rules her parents have set for her and her desire to defy them to sneak out and do good in this world. Kamala is smart, funny and strong, but she's also a little unsure of herself and it's this innocence that draws us to her on her path to discovering her identity. 

This comic is more than a superhero story; Ms Marvel is creating a much needed dialogue about the treatment towards the Muslim community in our society. Comics have a large influence across a diverse community so it's just that the narratives Marvel are creating reflect this. Kamala and her friend Nadia struggle with offhand comments about their religion or choice to wear the hijab and both grapple with the teachings in their Mosque as they strive to modern feminists. I think it's fantastic that Marvel has created such a diverse but realistic character that reflects and represents so many young women and will help them feel more involved in the world of comics. Kamala shows that being a Muslim does not hold her back in anyway but instead gives her the principles to use her powers for good.

The illustrations in this graphic novel are outstanding - the artists have truly established their own style unique to Ms Marvel but reminiscent of the Captain Marvel comics that came before her. The colours work perfectly and blend well with the text and story being told. All of the characters have been personified amazingly well and the illustrations complement this. All in all, an amazing comic that I can recommend to lovers of Marvel, a good female protagonist or anyone searching for better Muslim representation in the world of literature.

9/10

Review: How to Stop Time by Matt Haig

“Whenever I see someone reading a book, especially if it is someone I don't expect, I feel civilisation has become a little safer.” 

Tom Hazard has a dangerous secret. He may look like an ordinary forty-one-year-old, but he was born in 1581. Owing to a rare condition, he’s been alive for centuries. From Shakespeare’s England to Jazz Age Paris to voyaging the Pacific alongside Captain Cook, Tom has seen a lot, and he now craves an ordinary life.

Always changing his identity to stay alive, Tom now has the perfect cover—working as a history teacher at a London school. Here, he can teach the kids about wars and witch hunts as if he’d never witnessed them first-hand. He can try to tame the past that is quickly catching up with him. The only thing Tom can’t do is fall in love.

'How to Stop Time' is one of those books that stays with you long after you read it. It's the kind of book you find yourself thinking about staring out of the bus window on a rainy day. It's the kind of book you remember months later staring at the stars thinking about the meaning of life. And it's also the kind of book you'll remember with a fond smile or a giggle at some of the humorous parts. Basically, what I'm trying to say in a very cheesy way is that this is a book everyone should read, whatever your age or background because it's one of those books that will genuinely change your outlook on life itself, maybe only slightly but it will. 

Matt Haig has written a book for everyone because it is about the one thing the whole world has in common: life. The protagonist, Tom, struggles to find meaning in his life as he nears his 5th century on Earth, which isn't exactly the circumstances most of us find ourselves in but I think it goes without saying that everyone on the planet questions where life is taking us at some point. Various characters in the novel view life very differently: Tom has lived most of his life grieving for his only love Rose and searching the world for their daughter; Hendrich lives his life hiding away, always on the run and instilling fear into other 'albatrosses', whereas ordinary 'mayfly' and Tom's potential new love interest Camille seizes every opportunity she can, knowing how precious life can be and how quick it can disappear. Having these very different perspectives on life is a very clever device that Haig uses to show us readers there is not one right way to live life but that it must be lived, it is not enough to merely survive whether you have 80 or 800 years on Earth. 

The gentle romance blossoming between Camille and Tom is relatable to the reader because it is like any other romance. Tom is incredibly awkward and passive, wanting a relationship but wracked with guilt over Rose's death. Camille is interested but frustrated by Tom's blunt replies. We root for Tom but cringe at their awkward exchanges and his mistakes. Their romance isn't the main feature of the book but it plays an important part in Tom's journey to finding meaning in his life.

This is a truly beautiful book and Haig is a fantastically talented writer. It's the kind of story that will never lose relevance and is destined to be hailed as a classic by the next generation. Time will not need to be stopped for this book as it will survive and thrive for many readers to come.

10/10

Review: One of Us Is Lying by Karen M McManus

“I don't know why it's so hard for people to admit that sometimes they're just assholes who screw up because they don't expect to get caught.”

Yale hopeful Bronwyn has never publicly broken a rule. Sports star Cooper only knows what he's doing in the baseball diamond. Bad boy Nate is one misstep away from a life of crime. Prom queen Addy is holding together the cracks in her perfect life.

And outsider Simon, creator of the notorious gossip app at Bayview High, won't ever talk about any of them again. He dies 24 hours before he could post their deepest secrets online. Investigators conclude it's no accident. All of them are suspects.

Everyone has secrets, right?

What really matters is how far you'll go to protect them.

This book has been described as "Pretty Little Liars meets The Breakfast Club" and I suppose that's true to some extent in that the whole book really lacks originality. It was one of those books where the whole idea for the plot is very exciting but the actual novel doesn't live up to the hype and seems kind of lackluster. I found the characters to be very cliche of a teen novel, there really wasn't anything unique about them, which was quite disappointing actually. I was also kind of gutted that all four of the protagonists seemed one dimensional and undeveloped, all of their backgrounds and their individual stories weren't given the time they deserved as the author flitted between them all each chapter. It was interesting getting everyone's unique perspective but the readers don't really get a chance to fully understand the characters, meaning none of the scenes are particularly shocking or emotional.

What I love most about murder mystery novels are the plot twists that usually have me gripped and hanging on to every word but all of the supposedly surprising revelations in this novel were predictable and I'd already guessed them. The scenes in school were overly cliche and unrealistic as well, and I appreciate that it is a work of fiction but it does make it harder to enjoy the book and relate to the characters when that's the case. Also, the overly done, typical bad boy romance in this book was poorly written. If done well, it could have added a lot to the plot but as it was it just wasn't believable or relevant. 

This book was marketed and hyped up as a shocking murder mystery book with some unlikely teens banded together who bond over their shared experience as falsely accused but it just didn't live up to that at all. It was slow and not fast paced as a good thriller should be. I can't recommend it but you should always read a book for yourself to make your mind up!

3/10

Review: After The Fire by Will Hill

“Love changes how you see everything. It blinds you, but in a good way.” 

Father John controls everything inside The Fence. And Father John likes rules. Especially about never talking to Outsiders. Because Father John knows the truth. He knows what is right, and what is wrong. He knows what is coming.

Moonbeam is starting to doubt, though. She's starting to see the lies behind Father John's words. She wants him to be found out.

What if the only way out of the darkness is to light a fire?

After The Fire by Will Hill is a fantastic novel with a brilliant narrative and a disturbing yet gripping plot. This book is unique in that I've never read anything like it and yet it's a novel that should be shared because it shines a light on religious cults and how easy it is for someone to take power and manipulate something peaceful for their own personal gain. I cannot recommend this book enough, having been partly inspired by true events it's certainly an important story to tell and I think Will Hill has done a fantastic job of doing so.

Moonbeam's story is told out of chronological order, jumping between the past and the traumatic events she suffered, and the future as a psychiatrist and government agent attempt to help her heal and piece together the truth. This creates a really interesting narrative that made the book gripping and full of suspense.  

What Will Hill gets right is despite outlining all the horrific events inside The Lord's Legion, a Christian cult, he does not attack Christianity or make it seem a violent religion followed only by the gullible. He also does not disrespect any members of religious cults, instead exploring the complex reasons why people are attracted to them, portraying each character as genuine human beings, who are both compassionate and flawed.

I would recommend this book to anyone who's looking for a unique YA read that's grounded in real life. Also, it's great for anyone with an interest in religion as it explores how a peaceful, genuine faith can be twisted to oppress and take advantage of others. Definitely worth the read!

9/10

Review: Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare

"If you believe only in facts and forget stories, your brain will live, but your heart will die"

Emma Carstairs has finally avenged her parents. She thought she’d be at peace. But she is anything but calm. Torn between her desire for her parabatai Julian and her desire to protect him from the brutal consequences of parabatai relationships, she has begun dating his brother, Mark. But Mark has spent the past five years trapped in Faerie; can he ever truly be a Shadowhunter again?

And the faerie courts are not silent. The Unseelie King is tired of the Cold Peace, and will no longer concede to the Shadowhunters’ demands. Caught between the demands of faerie and the laws of the Clave, Emma, Julian, and Mark must find a way to come together to defend everything they hold dear—before it’s too late.

Lord of Shadows is the fantastic second installment of Cassandra Clare's bestselling series The Dark Artifices, an addition to her fictional world of Shadowhunters. As a huge fan of her books, I was so excited to start reading this and I wasn't disappointed! At nearly 700 pages long, I'd be lying if I said I flew through this novel but I was gripped the whole way through by the vivid mythical universe Clare has created and the intricate plot she weaves in each of her novels.

What is so appealing about Cassandra Clare's books is that all of the characters within the Shadowhunters universe are intertwined somehow, so Lord of Shadows sees the return of old favourites Jace, Clary, Magnus and Alec and of course a few more, but revealing the rest would be a spoiler ;) Lord of Shadows is the perfect blend of fantasy, romance and action packed scenes. With the main characters being teenagers, she also manages to somehow make fighting against demons seem relatable. The Blackthorn's children distrust and disrespect for authority is also certainly not exclusive to the world of Shadowhunters.

As always, Cassandra Clare does a fantastic job of bringing marginalised communities to the forefront of young adult literature, whether it be creating role models in Hispanic characters or giving the LGBT community representation. She educates young people who may otherwise lack knowledge on these topics or gives them someone to relate to who feels the same things.

Those who were gripped by Julian and Emma's complicated and often dangerous relationship in Lady Midnight will not be disappointed and fans of Cristina will be excited to see her play a bigger role in this novel and see a figure from her past make a reappearance... Also, new character Kit takes centre stage and provides humour and comedic relief when the plot darkens.

I cannot recommend this book enough! Whether you're an obsessed Shadowhunters fan or you're curious about dipping your toe into the YA fantasy world, The Dark Artifices series is a fantastic place to start!

9/10 

Review: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

"No one knows for certain how much impact they have on the lives of other people."

Clay Jensen returns home from school one day to find a mysterious box with his name on it, outside his front door. Inside he discovers a series of cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker - his classmate and crush. Only, she committed suicide two weeks earlier. On the first tape, Hannah explains that there are 13 reasons why she did what she did - and Clay is one of them.

If he listens, Clay will find out how he made the list - what he hears will change his life forever.

Thirteen Reasons Why is a profound, hard hitting and emotional YA book following ordinary high school student Clay in the aftermath of of his first love's suicide. Clay is the protagonist of the novel, but it's Hannah's story. Her witty humorous tone takes the reader on a journey that becomes increasingly dark and helpless as we learn what led to Hannah losing all hope. It's a very difficult story to read as Hannah often describes her dark thoughts in detail. Additionally, some of the incidents that lead to her suicide seem small and inconsequential until added with the strain on her mental health provided by other situations no one could have known about. This provides food for thought, making you honestly think as a reader about how our actions are impacting the lives of others in ways we may never know.

I picked up Thirteen Reasons Why after seeing the hype in the bookstagram community and also around the TV show. This book is a really important read and it's great that hard hitting topics are being brought into mainstream media and provoking necessary conversations surrounding mental health, however I didn't really feel that the book actually lived up to the hype. Also, I feel that although it's important to provoke conversation around mental health and teen suicide, it shouldn't be shown in a way that sensationalises or even normalises these feelings. It's important to me that young people consuming this kind of media are learning about how to recognise signs of poor mental health and reach out for help, not seeing at as something that romanticises suicidal feelings.

Honestly, this book is doing a great thing in encouraging important discussions in mental health, sexual assault and support systems for young people in school. However, it is a really tough read and I did find it quite upsetting. If you are affected by any of the issues raised within the book, you should reach out for help and support as that is the message Jay Asher is sending out to his audience. Ultimately, Hannah takes responsibility for her own actions and we recognise as readers that Hannah's situation could have been prevented had she been provided with proper support or reached out for help.

8/10

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in Thirteen Reasons Why, please visit https://www.papyrus-uk.org/# or https://youngminds.org.uk/?gclid=Cj0KEQjwnPLKBRC-j7nt1b7OlZwBEiQAv8lMLOwONmklIHvyZD-qHVq7HMbb8RspNj4rTOabELc0m0kaAnWQ8P8HAQ

Review: Emotions by Arnie Cantarero

"An emotionless being in an emotional world"

I received this book from Arnie Cantarero in exchange for an honest review.

Jason Ariaz is not your average 22 year old. He has been genetically and cybernetically enhanced but that’s only the beginning. He is an emotionless extraterrestrial born to human parents and living amongst us. Both him and his implanted thinking computer were damaged on landing and must go through life as less than what they really are. The purpose of their mission: to gain permanent emotions from the more primitive society that is Earth. If he is successful, he will be the first of his species to do so in nearly 200,000 years.

Hope lies in the fact that he is capable of emotional episodes and he has been able to forge true friendships. However, he does have the chance of completing his mission if he can truly care for Ariel, the closest human in his life. But he better know his heart soon. Their lives are in danger of ending tonight, unless he can recover what his species has lost.

Emotions is an exciting YA take on the sci-fi genre perfect for anyone with an interest in graphic novels or comics looking for a book that has the same kind of action and references to artificial intelligence. I don't usually read sci-fi books as sometimes the technological details can be too much to keep up with for someone who doesn't have an interest in computers, however the concept for this story had me hooked from the beginning.

This book definitely wasn't an easy read as such but Cantarero doesn't intend for it to be, choosing to tackle big questions surrounding human interaction and the complexity of the human experience. It was certainly interesting to follow Jason's internal dialogue between him and Computer and I think this book provides a lot of food for thought surrounding what makes a person a person and what we should value most as people - the greater good or our personal relationships. This book will have you questioning whether our emotions are what make us human and whether they are a weakness or a strength unique to intelligent life.

This book was enjoyable and though complex and slightly heavy with technological details, it's a really interesting read that will lead to some deep thinking! Definitely a must for sci-fi lovers and fans of Star Trek!

7/10

Emotions is available as an ebook on the Kindle or a paperback on Amazon

Review: Take Me To The Cat by Bryant A Loney

"His favourite part of life was that not even he knew what was to come next"

I received this Advanced Reading Copy from Verona Booksellers in exchange for an honest review.

Take Me To The Cat is an exciting, fast paced psychological thriller by young adult author Bryant A Loney. The theme of feeling nostalgia for the past while being thrust into a new future is relatable to all teens about to graduate as Michael and his friend Troy are, but on a roadtrip back to Michael's hometown, the pair discover that sometimes it's best to leave the past alone.

This is more than a thriller. It's an eclectic mix of a coming of age story, featuring issues that are important to young people today such as feminism and LGBT rights, set against the backdrop of a town with strange disappearances and a past that may not be the same as Michael remembers. The story builds towards the thrilling scenes, which adds to the suspension as the shocks are unexpected and the twists and turns become more dramatic as the story progresses. Loney is very skilled at writing plot twists, keeping readers on the edge of their seats throughout the entire book. Once you think you've figured it out and you know where the story is heading, he throws another spanner in the works to shock you once again.

The character of Michael and his best friend Troy have an interesting dynamic that adds more life to the story, although perhaps Troy and his credit cards are more there for plot convenience at times. Michael is seemingly an average teen heading off to college and struggling with choices for the future, but it's only when he begins to dig up the past that he discovers his life is perhaps not all it has seemed. Troy is an openly gay, life loving teen in a town too small for his big personality. Readers will admire his courage and positive attitude and when the story gets dark, Troy is always there to add an element of comedy. Their differing personalities make their car ride in the infamous Big Nasty entertaining enough to keep turning the page.

The cast of characters was so large that occasionally it was difficult to keep track of them all. However, everyone brought something unique to the story. What is possibly most attractive to YA readers about this story is the interesting mix of average teen life and the problems faced by modern teenagers with a psychologically thrilling plot line which does at times become quite disturbing. It could be described as a bold attempt at mixing the writing styles of John Green and David Levithan with Stephen King. Whether Loney pulls off this feat must be up to you as a reader, but I would recommend this to anybody interested in both YA and thrillers as this combines the two genres quite well. 

7/10

Take Me to the Cat releases on June 27th, 2017 in print, audio, and eBook formats via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, and more. Loney is also the author of YA novel To Hear the Ocean Sigh and novella Exodus in Confluence. 

Review: History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera

"I know you're not around to live, and I know you're always going to live through me."

OCD-afflicted seventeen-year-old, Griffin, has just lost his first love – his best friend, ex-boyfriend and the boy he believed to be his ultimate life partner – in a drowning accident. In a desperate attempt to hold onto every last piece of the past, a broken Griffin forges a friendship with Theo’s new college boyfriend, Jackson. And Griffin will stop at nothing to learn every detail of Theo’s new college life, and ultimate death. But as the grieving pair grows closer, readers will question Griffin's own version of the truth – both in terms of what he’s willing to hide, and what true love ultimately means...

History Is All You Left Me is one of the most honest books I've ever read. It's truly immersed in real life so it never feels like fiction as the themes discussed in the books are realities so many young people face. First love, first heartbreak, first loss and mental health issues. None of them are sugercoated, they're all depicted with brutal honesty. It was also really refreshing to read a book with LGBT protagonists who don't struggle with their identities and are happy with themselves. It's important to have books with this plot line as it teaches young people that it's not something you have to hide, it's something you can be proud of. 

Griffin is a really complex character and that's what makes him so likeable. He loves with all his heart but he also makes mistakes, often hurting the people around him. His struggle with OCD is probably one of the best mental health depictions in YA literature and Silvera definitely does a fantastic job at adding to the conversation and removing the stigma around mental health. Also. Griffin's unwillingness to accept the death of his best friend Theo is relatable to anyone who's had a loss and knows it's hard to let go when you haven't had any warning or the chance to process the bereavement.

The structure of the story, flitting between the past and today, is a clever method of showing how and why all of the characters reach the mindsets are in and what led to the events of the current day. The relationships between all the characters are unlikely, interesting and dynamic. With plenty of pop culture references, History Is All You Left Me is filled with fun, humorous moments as well as heartfelt, emotionally charged scenes. This is the kind of book you can't put down and when you do, it never truly leaves you. I'll definitely keep the messages in the book with me for a long time.

10/10

June is LGBT Pride Month. To learn more visit http://www.stonewall.org.uk/our-work/campaigns/pride-2017

CONFESSION: I Did Not Love Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Review

“The truth is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution.” 

Words could not do justice to my excitement when news of a Harry Potter stage show, to also be released as a book, surfaced. As a huge Harry Potter fan, any extension of the wizarding world created by genius author and all-round literary queen JK Rowling was the greatest thing imaginable. So yes, I was excited. The book was released while I was on holiday and I remember rushing into Waterstones as soon as I returned with my pre-order slip, eagerly awaiting the story of my favourite fictional characters and their children, 20 years on. 

Once I finally had my hands on it, I read it almost instantly and my first reaction was to love it without seeing any flaws. Blinded by the excitement of what was essentially fanfiction becoming canon, I became obsessed with it. I thought it was amazing, a story that needed to be told, one that kept us guessing right until the end. However, after some time away from it, with perspective I see the book is not as amazing as it could have been. 

Obviously Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is not intended to be read, it is a play and really needs to be seen performed live so the magic can be witnessed. I really appreciate that when analysing the book and this  makes me want to see the stage production even more than my initial Cursed Child obsessed self. Additionally, this review/confession is a long time coming since it took me a while to gather my thoughts and to get the courage to criticise openly something I really wanted to love. I just want to clarify that I did like and enjoy the story very much, I really just didn't love it. 

So the first problem for me that needs to be addressed is Ron. Yes, Ron himself in the play is a problem. Everything that Potterheads know and love about Ronald Weasley is cast aside and forgotten by the co-authors (who I suspect had more input than JK herself, unfortunately).  The brave, loyal and passionate redhead is reduced to a two dimensional character merely there for comedic value. It was just so sad to me for this to happen. Ron is so much more than a clown and the fact that the depth to his character wasn't explored me really ruined my experience of it.

Furthermore, I just didn't feel that that the world of Harry Potter was further explored or that there were enough moments that revealed aspects of the wizarding world that were previously unknown. My major problem with this is that I felt the writers really didn't take risks, they played it safe, giving fans what they already knew and were comfortable with. A new concept or setting being explored really would have set this play apart from some of the mediocre fanfictions drifting around on Wattpad. 

This leads me onto my next point: the Cursed Child felt like bad fanfiction. This is because of the strange way all the what ifs? that are posed on Tumblr forums seemed to magically (pun intended) come true. I appreciate that by setting it in the future with the same characters we know and previously loved would potentially have this feel, but overall I didn't feel that they nailed a world and people previously perfected. 

That being said, there were aspects of the Cursed Child that I really enjoyed, for example the relationship between Albus and Scorpius. It was refreshing and sweet to have that sort of innocence returning to the darkened world of Harry Potter. My favourite character was definintely Scorpius as he was the furthest from what I was expecting of him. I anticipated a young, charming and perhaps obnoxious boy, a mirror of his father. Instead, we are presented with a bubbly yet apprehensive child who is anxious to adhere to the rules. His unconditional faith in Albus made me love him instantly and I was so pleasantly surprised to see that he was a truly good person. 

Overall, I didn't love the Cursed Child, but this critical mindset makes me even more eager to see the play performed live, I have a feeling there'll be a different touch of magic that will bring the script to life off the page!

Review: A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Sara Barnard

"Mistakes are an unfortunate side effect of actually doing things, but they're usually worth it in the end."

Steffi doesn't talk. 
Rhys can't hear.
They understand each other perfectly. 
Love isn't always a lightning strike. Sometimes it's the rumbling roll of thunder...
The stunning new novel from the bestselling author of Beautiful Broken Things is a love story about the times when a whisper is as good as a shout.

A Quiet Kind of Thunder is certainly one of the best books I've read this year. It tells the tale of two wonderful people who need to have their story heard: a socially anxious teenager who struggles to have her voice heard due to her selective mutism and a deaf boy struggling with the challenges of starting sixth form at a main stream hearing school. Despite their communication challenges, the pair support each other and develop a strong bond, speaking through broken sign language and messaging apps. But there's more to their relationship than having difficulties in communicating with the world in common - they're a dynamic duo who understand each other, sharing inside jokes and pushing themselves to bring out the best in each other. This beautiful tale of young love despite exploring two minorities whose voices often go unheard is relatable to all young teens starting a new school, moving on to the next stage in life and falling in love for the first time. 

The most refreshing part of the book is that Steffi's chronic anxiety is not magically cured by a handsome boyfriend. Instead, their strong bond gives her the courage to go out and do the things she's always dreamt of, with the added confidence of someone cheering her on at the sidelines. Additionally, Rhys is not overly reliant on Steffi to communicate, they work together to better themselves. Their young relationship is fresh and new and exciting for them and this is tangible when reading, however it is not overly intense as relationships often are in YA novels, so this was certainly refreshing to read.

I believe this is a really important book to be read as it delicately explores the issue of anxiety and mental health in young people while not glamourising it. Steffi's experience is raw and it's easy to see the difficulties she faces. Young people should read this book to better understand the experience of those around them with anxiety, and also for those who experience similar problems to realise they are not alone and this is something a large number of people unfortunately go through.

Furthermore, this is the first YA book I have read where one of the main characters is deaf. Barnard does an amazing job in bringing disability to the forefront of YA books and handles the topic well. Rhys is just a normal teenager who just happens to be deaf and it's really important that he is portrayed that way so that awareness is raised of the difficulties disabled people face but also of the fact that with support they can lead a normal life. This book also sparked an interest for me in BSL as I think it's important for us to be able to communicate with people from all walks of life.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a coming of age YA novel and also anyone who enjoyed Barnard's first YA book Beautiful Broken Things. If you like the writing style of Holly Bourne, you'll probably love this book.

9/10

This week is mental health awareness week and if you're interested in learning more you can visit https://www.mind.org.uk/ or https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week

Review: The Bone Dragon by Alexia Casale

"Although you are afraid to fail, you are also afraid to succeed"

Evie's shattered ribs have been a secret for the last four years. Now she has found the strength to tell her adoptive parents, and the physical traces of her past are fixed - the only remaining signs a scar on her side and a fragment of bone taken home from the hospital, which her uncle Ben helps her to carve into a dragon as a sign of her strength. Soon this ivory talisman begins to come to life at night, offering wisdom and encouragement in roaming dreams of smoke and moonlight that come to feel ever more real.

As Evie grows stronger there remains one problem her new parents can't fix for her: a revenge that must be taken. And it seems that the Dragon is the one to take it.
This subtly unsettling novel is told from the viewpoint of a fourteen-year-old girl damaged by a past she can't talk about, in a hypnotic narrative that, while giving increasing insight, also becomes increasingly unreliable.

A blend of psychological thriller and fairy tale, The Bone Dragon explores the fragile boundaries between real life and fantasy, and the darkest corners of the human mind.

This book was a truly beautiful and poignant story, shrouded in mystery and a dark reality. Despite being a Young Adult novel aimed predominantly at teens I definitely feel this is a book that everyone should read as it offers a whole new perspective on life, death and all of the difficulties we face in between. These themes are explored so maturely even while being told from the perspective of a fourteen year old girl and they offer real food for thought. 

The protagonist Evie is such a strong character and Alexia Casale does such a good job of bringing her to life that she seems like any other teenage girl, despite having a dark past and facing many difficulties throughout her childhood. She is mature in some respects, having to grow up quickly but immature in others, often seeming a little naive.

The character of the dragon was my favourite in the whole novel as he delivered some of the wisest words and messages I had ever read in a YA novel. This is a book that everyone can learn from. The exploration of human relationships and the way that we affect everyone we come across in life was an important and delicately outlined theme in the novel. 

Initially, the book was quite confusing as much of Evie's experiences were still a secret waiting to be discovered as she grew in character by the reader. As the story progressed, the mysteries began to resolve and things began to become clearer. I found I couldn't put the book down! I hugely enjoy books with mystery and secrets running throughout the whole plot.

I would definitely recommend this book. The most important thing to take away from the novel is that Evie teaches us to be brave in every aspect of our lives. Alexia Casale has created a character whose experiences must not be swept under the rug. She has given a voice to victims of abuse who are too often forgotten through this beautiful YA story.

8/10

Review: The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr

"Live in the moment whenever you can. You don't need a memory to do that."

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHO TO TRUST WHEN YOU CAN'T EVEN TRUST YOURSELF? I look at my hands. One of them says FLORA BE BRAVE. Flora has anterograde amnesia. She can't remember anything day-to-day: the joke her friend made, the instructions her parents gave her, how old she is. Then she kisses someone she shouldn't, and the next day she remembers it. It's the first time she's remembered anything since she was ten. But the boy is gone. She thinks he's moved to the Arctic. Will following him be the key to unlocking her memory? Who can she trust?

The One Memory of Flora Banks is one of the most beautiful, poignant books I have ever read. Flora suffers from a form of amnesia that means she only holds memories for a few hours before being confused. Her last memories are of when she was 10 but now she is 17 and struggling to navigate life as a young woman when she is still treated as a child by her memories and her overprotective parents. Then something amazing happens to Flora: she kisses a boy and remembers. Flora seizes this opportunity to start living her life and taking chances, growing up and discovering in her own way. She starts out searching for someone else but discovers herself along the way.

Although this certainly isn't your typical YA novel, Flora is as relatable as any protagonist. Barr has made her raw and honest, far from perfect but full of emotion and a will to find her own adventure in life. She faces the same difficulties as many young teens do: broken friendships, first love and a struggle for independence. This is a story of honesty and discovery. This book kept me gripped the whole way through as Flora is a "wild and wonderful" character who is completely loveable. Everything is not always as transparent as it seems on the surface and Flora and the reader truly face a rollercoaster ride. Flora is the narrator but how reliable is the account of someone with memory loss?

I would 100% recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of YA literature and would enjoy a coming of age story with a twist.

9/10

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

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

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 stars