Hey everyone,

Some of you might remember that a very very long time ago I began to read the Harry Potter series. Well, after a number of breaks and proclamations of ‘I just want to read something else’ I am finally near the end of this very epic journey.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince has been my favourite so far unquestionably.

The plot of this later instalment was already so much more rich but then Rowling goes and interweaves histories and secrets all throughout the narrative in a way that feels classically Harry Potter-esque. In a sense this book is the best of every part of the books and the heartbreaking and genuinely soul destroying ending only adds to its impact.

I am a firm believer that Rowling did the right thing in killing Dumbledore off, not only because of the intricate plot work and foreshadowing that is to come (I know whats going to happen already, the films did an excellent job of spoiling it for me) but also because it signifies a shift in series. This really is the book where everything becomes far more grown up and far more terrifying; it might seem like the transition is a move from middle grade to YA but I don’t think this does it justice. Voldemort is evil, this is an adult book from now on.

The growing up didn’t feel like a loss of the childhood that I briefly relieved whilst reading these books, it felt like an important way for Rowling to expand her world.

In terms of world building I felt that Half Blood Prince gave me the impression of a wider universe of knowledge about the wizarding world that is still waiting to be tapped into, in a way that is similar to Goblet of Fire. Most significantly, the darkness of the Horcrux magic is far more emphasised and explored in the book than in the film – I found myself quite obsessed with Voldemort’s past and his pursuit of immortality.

Of course I would recommend this book, its Harry Potter; but I shall recommend it even more because of the way it changed my perspective on the magical world outside the safety of Hogwarts.

I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

Keep on reading!

And thanks again Beth.

Hey everyone!

A few weeks ago I finished this book and have been waiting to talk about it on this blog ever since.

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor is a young adult high fantasy novel. The story follows the story loving Lazlo Strange, an orphan who dreams of one day seeing the lost city of Weep. Nobody knows the city’s true name, nobody knows where its magic comes from and where its magic has gone but Lazlo still dreams. Even though he is surrounded by scholars and academics in the royal library he works at, Lazlo has never been interested in the science of the real world. This book follows a lover of other worlds and other stories.

I don’t think I could have written a summary that does this book enough justice. Strange the Dreamer deserves an unquantifiable amount of magic justice. That is, this book is the most magical I have read in a long long while.

I have always been interested in what lies just beyond the everyday and so I was delighted to find, when reading this book, that Laini Taylor is just as fascinated too. Strange the Dreamer is a truly strange and beautiful book. Taylor constructs a visually decadent world and weaves a cast of stunningly unique characters into a vibrant narrative. Until reading this novel I didn’t realise how much I enjoyed Taylor’s writing style. I would describe it as a cross between magical-realism and pure poetry. The language itself is a magic in this book.

Lazlo oozes with quirks, he is the perfectly whimsical anti hero, but what I found most lovable about his character was his unwavering belief in his dreams. It is a lesson to all of us to not only be ambitious in the goals we set but also be authentic in the dreams we pursue. I imagine that if I were to be adventuring alongside Lazlo to the lost city of Weep (no spoilers!) then we could both just spend hours geeking out about fantasy books.

This was a brief but hopefully interesting review of a book that is quite literally out of this world. I highly recommend reading Strange the Dreamer if not for the language then for the escape itself.

I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

Keep on reading!

And thanks again Beth.

Hi everyone!!

I’ve been gone for while – but i’m back!

The end of the day by Claire North is a new adult sci-fi thriller novel that follows Charlie, the harbinger of death. Although he is one of the riders of the apocalypse and comes before death itself, Charlie is a normal guy and his job is like any other – he reports to an office in Milton keynes, takes sick leave and occasionally has his life threatened in Belarus. This story spans multiple countries and multiple lives. Each encounter asks a different question and alters the way we see our world.

This novel satirises the abstract death. Charlie is the average hero but his ‘anti-power’, as North seems to be so fond of within her main characters, is letting people know when they are about to die. The reason I loved this book so much was because Charlie approaches death not as something sorrowful but rather as a moment to reflect on what you’ve been given in life and the things the world has taken away. Significantly North pushes the boundaries of how society commonly perceives dying. Aside from all of the globe trotting and hilarity, we understand that we don’t have to be scared of passing on – it doesn’t have to be an end.

Charlie respects women, supports racial equality and when asked about his sexuality simply answers that he’s not too sure. Essentially North creates the friend we all wish we had and on top of that makes him into philosophical beacon that spurts out inspirational life quotes every few chapters. What I like most about Charlie is his willingness to learn and understand. North’s unique writing style coupled with the empathy she exemplifies through her main character turns this book from a narrative that you can enjoy into a story that you can learn from. Charlie visits countless people from countless backgrounds and shows tolerance for every single one. The End Of the Day showed me the importance of advocating for equality on all fronts.

I would try and explain the plot but it is far too big and spectacular and intricate for me to describe here. You’ll just have to read the book to find out.

I highly recommend this novel – it was perhaps one of the most interesting books I have read this year as North’s work usually is.

I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars!

Keep on reading

And thanks again Beth