Tag: bibliophile

Review: A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J Maas

On By Beth JonesIn Book Review9 Comments

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Feyre, Rhys, and their close-knit circle of friends are still busy rebuilding the Night Court and the vastly-changed world beyond. But Winter Solstice is finally near, and with it, a hard-earned reprieve. 
Yet even the festive atmosphere can’t keep the shadows of the past from looming. As Feyre navigates her first Winter Solstice as High Lady, she finds that those dearest to her have more wounds than she anticipated–scars that will have far-reaching impact on the future of their Court.

I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought. Because I’ve heard it’s a lot like fanfic, and I thought it might disappoint me because of it. In a way, I ended up loving it even more. Because this book is like Maas’ own love letter for the world she created. It’s like a fanfic for herself, and I’m sorry but how damn cool is that?

“Stars flickered around us, sweet darkness sweeping in.”

I relished this book, because I absolutely adore the world Maas made, and she made sure to show it off with this book. I felt like she took the time to really show us how Velaris looked to her, and I loved that. The winter scenes felt truly magical and so vibrant, I couldn’t stop reading about the beautiful swirling snowstorms.

I also love how this book didn’t rush. The whole thing was about the solstice and their beautiful family. Having the slightly different POV helped me understand their inner dynamics and I’m sure its something I’m going to take into the rest of the series. Also, the solstice really gave me a Christmassy festive feel which was so heartwarming!

“As if we were the only souls in a galaxy.”

The only slight issue I had was the weird sex scene at the end, in which Feyre shows Rhys their future son, and he…um..enjoyed it a little too much for my liking. If you sit back and think about that scene, it really creeped me the hell out.

But for the whole book to only have that one little setback for me, I still have to say I’m going to give it 5 stars!

★★★★★
5 stars

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

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Review: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

On By Beth JonesIn Book Review6 Comments

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Feyre survived Amarantha’s clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can’t forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin’s people.
Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

It’s taken me a long while to finally get around to carrying on with this series, but I finally am! My friend Amy has been reading them over the past few weeks, and she inspired me to pick this series back up. I read A Court of Thorns and Roses a few years ago and I was one of the very few people in this world who didn’t jump on this series. Yes, I liked it, but I didn’t love it like so many others.

But I had a pleasant surprise with this one! Maybe it’s because I’m enjoying fantasy a lot more recently, but I’m in love.

“To the stars who listen”

The world in this series is unlike any other, and I’m really enjoying the politics between the courts. I think I found it hard to follow in the first book, but it’s all making sense now I’m more used to reading fantasy! I’m also really enjoying the romance, because the rollercoaster of emotions in ACOMAF had me crying, laughing, cringing and punching the air. It teared my heart apart and sewed it back together so many times! I really enjoyed the slow build of sexual tension between Feyre and Rhys, and I even found the sex scenes not too bad. The only thing I will say is that they are very unrealistic in parts (*ahem* that lodge *ahem*), but I did find them well written other than that.

“and the dreams that are answered.”

The only downside I have to say is this book is longgg. And not only that, it can be a real slow-burner at times. For most of the book, I was kind of counting the pages, but somehow a few short bursts really made up for it. There is no doubt about Maas’ writing being absolutely beautiful and very poetic, and I found so many quotes and passages that I utterly adored.

So I’m very happy to say that Sarah J. Maas, you have stolen my heart back, and I’m looking forward to what’s to come!

★★★★★
5 stars

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

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Review: It Only Happens in the Movies by Holly Bourne

On By Beth JonesIn Book Review4 Comments

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Audrey is over romance. Since her parents’ relationship imploded her mother’s been catatonic, so she takes a cinema job to get out of the house. But there she meets wannabe film-maker Harry. Nobody expects Audrey and Harry to fall in love as hard and fast as they do. But that doesn’t mean things are easy. Because real love isn’t like the movies…
The greatest love story ever told doesn’t feature kissing in the snow or racing to airports. It features pain and confusion and hope and wonder and a ban on cheesy clichés. Oh, and zombies… YA star Holly Bourne tackles real love in this hugely funny and poignant novel.

Firstly, hi on a Saturday! I know I usually post Stacking the Shelves on a Saturday but as I haven’t bought books this week (yay for self control), I thought I would post this. I’m really sorry if this is one-too-many reviews for a week but honestly, if I don’t post this right now I’m going to just have a backlog of reviews as I’m reading quicker than I can post! Which is awesome!

So onto this book, and I had mixed feelings about even buying this in the first place. I remember reading Am I Normal Yet? and finding the voice of the MC a little too young for me, and I was scared about this happening again. But I would say It Only Happens in the Movies had a slightly older feel.

“Love isn’t just a feeling. Love is a choice too.”

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I can see why it has so much praise. It’s just very real in many aspects – romance, friendship, sex, growing up, parent troubles, moving from home..everything.

But I can’t help it, I have these niggles, and I wish I didn’t but I just did. For one, I didn’t like Audrey all the time. She was just so damn angsty and constantly angry, and I know it was because of her circumstances but she’d just like blow up for no reason? It also annoyed me when she didn’t seek help for either her or her mum, even though she knew how much she was going through, she just isolated herself instead. Another really important point I’d like to make is something I read in another review – if the same thing that happened to Harry happened to Audrey at the end of the book, it would be a completely different story.

“And you may not be able to help your feelings, but you are responsible for the choices you make about what to do with them.”

But even though I did have some little annoyances, I actually mostly enjoyed reading this book. It was a little cliche for me, but Audrey was a really strong feminist character who I looked up to and loved her strength. I felt how relatable this book was, and even told my friend about it who had been through a very similar experience to Audrey. I felt like this alone tells everyone how important this book is.

★★★★
3.5 stars

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

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Review: The Last Place on Earth by Carol Snow

On By Beth JonesIn Book Review4 Comments

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Daisy and Henry are best friends, and they know all each other’s secrets.  Or, so Daisy thinks, until she wakes up one morning to find that Henry and his family have disappeared without a trace. Daisy suspects Henry’s disappearance is connected to their seriously awkward meeting the night before, but then she finds a note from Henry, containing just the words “SAVE ME.”  Deeply worried, Daisy convinces her unemployed brother to take her on a rescue mission into the California mountains. As they begin to home in on Henry’s exact location, they also start to find some disturbing clues… clues that call into question everything Daisy believes she knows about her friend.  Why is he so hard to find? What kind of trouble is he in, exactly? And most importantly, who is actually saving who?

To start, can we just take a look at this cover? I picked this up for myself as a little present for being accepted into university, and it was definitely a cover buy. But it actually didn’t disappoint – at least not completely!

This book is definitely a page-turner. It’s so quick and easy, I read it in a matter of hours and I never really read that quickly! It’s quite enthralling and entertaining, and I did really want to know what was going to happen in the rambling plot. Talking of the plot, it started really well. The first 50-100 pages completely captured my attention, and then things get strange. In fact, this book turns weirdddd. And I’m a little weird, but it might even be weirder than me. It just turned into something I wasn’t ready for, or expecting at all.

So this book ends up being just completely absurd. Without giving away a lot of spoilers, it felt incredibly strange and random and I was left almost laughing with the pure anti-realism of it all. It’s cool that Snow wanted to explore something unique and not really covered in YA, and in some ways I think it’s done really well, but also what what what.

Talking of weirdness, this book also includes a family called the Dunkles. This family has 7 children with names all beginning with K and they were, of course, home schooled. Can I just confirm, as someone who was home schooled for 6 years, WE ARE NOT THE DUNKLES. Some of us are actually pretty normal, and live in normal houses with normal, conventional families. And personally, I don’t want my home schooling years to be represented by the Dunkles.

After all that negativity, I still can’t say this book was bad. If you take it at face value and don’t expect a great work of literature or a masterpiece, it’s really entertaining. Sure, there are mistakes and plot holes and it’s certainly not perfect, but it’s a fun adventure all the same.

★★★★
3.5 stars

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

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Review: The Smell of Other People’s Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock

On By Beth JonesIn Book Review4 Comments

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In Alaska, 1970, being a teenager here isn’t like being a teenager anywhere else. Ruth has a secret that she can’t hide forever. Dora wonders if she can ever truly escape where she comes from, even when good luck strikes. Alyce is trying to reconcile her desire to dance, with the life she’s always known on her family’s fishing boat. Hank and his brothers decide it’s safer to run away than to stay home—until one of them ends up in terrible danger.
Four very different lives are about to become entangled.

The last time I saw my friend and co-blogger Pete, he gave me a book! It’s also one I’ve wanted to read for a long time – especially since his great review back in September.

I adore how unique this book is, and I felt it’s honesty. I felt the genuine, heartfelt location of 1970s Alaska so insightful and interesting. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book quite the same, involving such a different set of characters and locations. Much like other books with more than one POV, I did find it hard to get into each character and their individual stories, but I ended up liking the differences.

“I’ll never understand how certain things that happen to us can climb under our skin and make us someone new. Big things can do it — like Sam going missing.”

This book strikes me as important. It tackles subjects I’ve never read about before in such detail, such as the statehood and problems Alaska and it’s people faced. It talks about growing up with abusive parents and not knowing your own family. It faces teenage pregnancy and the struggles of growing up.

I love how each character meant a lot, even the families and parents. Too many YA books focus entirely on romance, but this book felt like so much more. It talked about the relationships we have with our families and friends, and how we as people help and support those we love. It wasn’t just relationships or friendships, it was about everyone.

“Small things can do it, too, like having a stranger fall to pieces in front of you. I’m beginning to think that everything changes us to some extent.”

The focus of this book is how our lives intertwine and combine, no matter what. It talks about how we all work together, even though we have different backgrounds and interests. It talks about togetherness and the respect we should have for one another. I felt this book is so important, and definitely one that will stay with me for a long time to come.

★★★★★
4.5 stars

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

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Review: The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephanie Meyer

On By Beth JonesIn Book Review5 Comments

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Bree Tanner can barely remember life before she had uncannily powerful senses, superhuman reflexes and unstoppable physical strength. Life before she had a relentless thirst for blood… life before she became a vampire.
All Bree knows is that living with her fellow newborns has few certainties and even fewer rules: watch your back, don’t draw attention to yourself and, above all, make it home by sunrise or die. What she doesn’t know: her time as an immortal is quickly running out.
Then Bree finds an unexpected friend in Diego, a newborn just as curious as Bree about their mysterious creator, whom they know only as her. As they come to realize that the newborns are pawns in a game larger than anything they could have imagined, Bree and Diego must choose sides and decide whom to trust. But when everything you know about vampires is based on a lie, how do you find the truth?

Ugh. It was difficult enough to get through the cheese fest books that are Twilight, but in the end, the hopeless romantic inside me still loved them. But this book was one constant cringe. For a start, I don’t even know who this Bree girl is. Isn’t she in like a tiny scene of the third Twilight book? And she is never introduced as a character in her own right, she’s just this random young vampire. And I know she’s young, but BFF clubs? Ninja clubs? What the hell? They’re adults and teenagers, not little kids in spy club.

“It was shockingly weird to touch another person after a whole life – because the last three months were my whole life – of avoiding any kind of contact.”

Maybe I would have enjoyed this book more if I’d read it just after Eclipse or even just after the series, but a year on, I was not in the mindset for this book. As great as parts of this book might be simply for the mind-building, it was just nothing in it’s own right. It was flat, 2nd characters and a lot of pointless stuff I really didn’t understand.

“Like touching a sparking downed power line, only to find out that it felt nice.”

I have to say though, this book wasn’t unreadable. Like, it was vaguely okay even if I didn’t really enjoy it. It had some kind of slightly interesting parts and characters, like Fred, for example. But I can’t get over the fact that I just didn’t connect with any of them, or really care. In the end, Bree didn’t seem to care much about herself either. It all just seemed really rather pointless.

★★

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

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Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

On By Beth JonesIn Book Review3 Comments

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As he climbs into the sidecar of Hagrid’s motorbike and takes to the skies, leaving Privet Drive for the last time, Harry Potter knows that Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters are not far behind. The protective charm that has kept Harry safe until now is broken, but he cannot keep hiding. The Dark Lord is breathing fear into everything Harry loves, and to stop him Harry will have to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes. The final battle must begin – Harry must stand and face his enemy…

This book is so bittersweet. I’m really happy and so sad at the same time…because I’m no longer in Hogwarts. I’m no longer taking a magical journey with Harry and Hermione and Ron. But I DID IT. After 18 whole years on this planet, I FINISHED HARRY POTTER.

Anyway, enough about that – I have a post scheduled for Tuesday all about my overall HP journey – let’s talk about the last book.

“We’re all human, aren’t we.”

The thing I really noticed in this book is how complicated and complex the storyline is. Hallows, Horcruxes, Hogwarts, fighting. Along with all of the personal parts of the plot (their romances, friendships and families), I felt Harry mature with the story and I loved reading about his thoughts.

I have to say even though I loved this book, it could be a little too complicated for my liking. In fact, I had to read the last couple of chapters in my room, on my own, in complete silence, to be able to fully understand everything that was going on.

The only thing I have to mention I didn’t like in this book was it was very hard to adapt to not being in Hogwarts. As awesome as it was travelling the British countryside, I did want so badly to be back in the castle.

“Every human life is worth the same, and worth saving.”

Honestly, my head is in such a mess right now because I’m so confused about not being in the magical world and how I’m going to adapt to not reading about Harry and his friends. I can safely say I loved this book, but it’s so hard to get the words out! So let’s finish up this review with a star rating…

★★★★★

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

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Review: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

On By Beth JonesIn Book Review7 Comments

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When Dumbledore arrives at Privet Drive one summer night to collect Harry Potter, his wand hand is blackened and shrivelled, but he does not reveal why. Secrets and suspicion are spreading through the wizarding world, and Hogwarts itself is not safe. Harry is convinced that Malfoy bears the Dark Mark: there is a Death Eater amongst them. Harry will need powerful magic and true friends as he explores Voldemort’s darkest secrets, and Dumbledore prepares him to face his destiny…

The crying as begun! I’ve always been told the last book is really sad, but I didn’t know it started early. So I’m leaving this book as a complete emotional wreck and I just hope I can get across in this review how the book made me feel.

I’m definitely back to loving these books again – they do improve again after the 5th book! Not back to the standard of the 3rd or 4th, but still, I really enjoyed this one. As I had already been told, they do continue to get darker, and I found the plot a lot more complex! But I really enjoyed that, as there is a lot of progression as the book goes on.

“It was, he thought, the difference between being dragged into the arena to face a battle to the death and walking into the arena with your head held high.”

As well as maturity in story, I’m enjoying seeing Harry progress too. Seeing his friendships and relationships grow is a pleasure, and I loved his lessons with Dumbledore. For such a complex story, I really applaud how Rowling still managed to include Harry’s feelings, especially as he grows and matures.

However, I have to say that even though this book does progress, I found most of it kind of…relaxed. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, but the pace was definitely slower until it sped up at the end of the book. It didn’t make it boring – it just made it comfortable.

“Some people, perhaps, would say that there was little to choose between the two ways, but Dumbledore knew – and so do I, thought Harry, with a rush of fierce pride, and so did my parents – that there was all the difference in the world.”

I’m really excited for the last book and to finish this series – but I’m going to miss the world of Hogwarts so much. It’s a story I haven’t stopped loving and I don’t think I ever will. Bring on the tears. Bring on the emotion. Bring on Deathly Hallows.

★★★★★

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

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Review: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

On By Beth JonesIn Book Review5 Comments

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Harry Potter’s summer has included the worst birthday ever, doomy warnings from a house-elf called Dobby, and rescue from the Dursleys by his friend Ron Weasley in a magical flying car! Back at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for his second year, Harry hears strange whispers echo through empty corridors – and then the attacks start. Students are found as though turned to stone… Dobby’s sinister predictions seem to be coming true.

I am well and truly infatuated with Hogwarts and magic. Going into the second book felt so comforting and friendly. I felt like I was being welcomed.

I think this book is the perfect sequel. On one hand, I still find these books daunting. I have 5 more and one of them is 800 pages long. I’m going to be trapped in Hogwarts for a while yet! But on the other hand, my eagerness is definitely still there for this series, and I don’t want to leave anytime yet.

“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are…”

This book might feel comforting and like being welcomed by an old friend, but it also includes a lot of newness, and I hope this continues with the next books. It includes so many scenes that contained so much fun! I love the collection of new characters we meet and the chemistry between the familiar and brand new.

Can I also talk about Harry? I love his thought processes! That might seem like a very strange thing to say, but he actually battles with his own inner demons in this book and I think it’s great that that is discussed in a book aimed at children.

“…far more than our abilities.”

I feel like I’m bursting with so many more thoughts, but I’m going to have to wrap up and tell you guys that I read this book in like, 3 days?! I feel like I’ve been reading pretty slowly recently so it’s really exciting that I’m managing to get through these so quickly. I think it proves how much I enjoyed this book!

Why did I read it so quickly? Well, this book kept me so on edge! I really wanted to know what was about to happen to these characters I now hold so close to my heart. The mystery is intense and exciting, what can I say.

I’m going to force myself to stop rambling now, and rate this book a well deserved…

★★★★★

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

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Review: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

On By Beth JonesIn Book Review10 Comments

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Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the letters start dropping on the doormat at number four, Privet Drive. Addressed in green ink on yellowish parchment with a purple seal they are swiftly confiscated by his grisley aunt and uncle. Then, on Harry’s eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
An incredible adventure is about to begin!

I can’t believe I’ve actually finally got around to reading these books. So, you may or may not know…but I am 18 years of age and this is my first time reading Harry Potter. And no, I have not watched the movies.

I felt a lot of pressure going into these books, which is probably why I am so, so happy right now. I could have so easily been disappointed after years of hearing this franchise being talked about, and I expected so much. I tried to make sure I went into this book with no expectations, but it’s hard with something like Harry-freaking-Potter.

“”The truth.” Dumbledore sighed.”

How on earth am I now going to explain exactly why I loved this book? I don’t think words could do this magical world justice. Rowling has achieved something incredible. This book can be enjoyed by everyone. I’ve heard that said so many times about Harry Potter, but now it’s hit me just how true it is. I’m so impressed right now, because of how true that actually is. This book is well-explained enough to be loved by children, and just purely lovable enough to be enjoyed by everyone else. What kind of amazing feat is that?

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

I think everyone knows enough about Hogwarts for me to not have to go through everything about this book. But for the sake of being a book blogger, Hogwarts is great. The characters are awesome. The plot is detailed and fun. This book is an absolutely magical adventure.

So, I will leave you all, lovely readers, by saying one thing. Harry Potter has captured so many hearts all over the world. I am so happy to say this book has captured mine, too.

★★★★★

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

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