#BookishWISHES with The Darkest Part of the Forest

To celebrate the upcoming release of The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black, we were asked to come up with some ideas for a tag called #BookishWISHES

‘IN THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR’

 

We were given examples of what we could do, but it all came down to what we wanted. Our bookish wishes. Some of the examples included :

 

. The book you wish you had written

. A book you wish an author would write

. An author you'd like to meet

 

Some people have two #bookishWISHES for this year, but I only have one. My wish is to hopefully write a Non-Fiction/Self-help book directed at teenagers based on Depression and Suicide. There are books out there, but none of them are directed at teenagers, for teenagers. I think it's important to get the message out there in a way that isn't so mumble jumble. I want it to be straight to the point, but also very simple.

 

FAIRY GOD MOTHER HAS.....ARRIVED!

 

I, the team at Indigo Publishers and Holly Black are passing on the magic to one of you readers. To be in with a chance of winning your very own copy of The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black [UK Only] all you have to do is tweet me @GayMonst3r with your #BookishWISHES and also tag @FierceFiction and then leave the link of the tweet in this blog posts comment section.

Good luck!

 

[Giveaway runs until 11th February 2015]

 

 

The Darkest Part of the Forest

 

 

 

Children can have a cruel, absolute sense of justice. Children can kill a monster and feel quite proud of themselves. A girl can look at her brother and believe they’re destined to be a knight and a bard who battle evil. She can believe she’s found the thing she’s been made for.

Hazel lives with her brother, Ben, in the strange town of Fairfold where humans and fae exist side by side. The faeries’ seemingly harmless magic attracts tourists, but Hazel knows how dangerous they can be, and she knows how to stop them. Or she did, once. At the centre of it all, there is a glass coffin in the woods. It rests right on the ground and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointy as knives. Hazel and Ben were both in love with him as children. The boy has slept there for generations, never waking.

Until one day, he does… As the world turns upside down and a hero is needed to save them all, Hazel tries to remember her years spent pretending to be a knight. But swept up in new love, shifting loyalties, and the fresh sting of betrayal, will it be enough?

THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST by Holly Black will be published by Indigo on 5 February 2015 9781780621739/ Hardback at £10.99 and ebook at £5.99

 

 

 

About HOLLY BLACK:

Holly Black is the bestselling author of YA and children's books including being co-creator of The Spiderwick Chronicles, a NEW YORK TIMES No.1 bestselling phenomenon and hugely successful film. She has been a finalist for the MYTHOPOEIC AWARD, the EISNER AWARD and a recipient of the ANDRE NORTON AWARD and a NEWBERY HONOR. She currently lives in New England in a house with a secret door.

 

 

Review: My True Love Gave to Me edited by Stephanie Perkins

Title: My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories
Author: A Bunch of Various Authors
Genre: Christmas / Romance
Publisher: MacMillan's Children
Published: October 9th 2014
Page Number: 359

Rating: 3.75/5

 

Summary:

 

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me ...This beautiful collection features twelve gorgeously romantic stories set during the festive period, by some of the most talented and exciting YA authors writing today. The stories are filled with the magic of first love and the magic of the holidays.

 

 

 

 

Review:

 

Midnights by Rainbow Rowell - 5/5

 

I absolutely loved this short story by Rainbow Rowell which follows a girl called Mags over the period of 3 New Years parties. Each year is different and the ending is super cute. Rainbow Rowell really captured my attention and wrote great, flawed characters.

 

“You’re a kaleidoscope. You change every time I look away.”

 

 

The Lady and the Fox by Kelly Link - 1/5

I just did not like this short story at all. The beginning was a little all over the place and the writing didn't do anything for me. Maybe having Rainbow Rowell start the collection was a really bad idea.


Angels in the Snow by Matt De La Pena - 5/5

I absolutely adored this short story. It was great with it following a guy named Shy because men do have slightly different thoughts to women. I also loved how it wasn't exactly a happy-ish ending. It was a mutual ending that fitted the story very well.

“The feeling it gave me was an odd combination of weightless self-pity and excitement. I understood my life was meaningless, and this knowledge freed me up to accomplish absolutely anything.”  


Polaris is where you'll find me by Jenny Han - 4/5

I was so surprised that I enjoyed this short story because it was about Elves. I don't have anything against Elves, but I didn't think it'd work, but it definitely did. The characters were great and very life like. The only negatives were the fact that Flynn could touch Natalie's cheek when she was standing up. Can Elves even reach that far? and the ending was so abrupt. But it was still super cute!

"When I think back on it, I realize it was the first time I ever got to introduce myself. I'd known everyone at the North Pole since I was a baby, and they all called me Natty, because that was what Santa called me. It was my first time being Natalie."


It's a Yuletide miracle, Charlie Brown by Stephanie Perkins - 4/5

I really did love this short story. Stephanie can create some of the best characters ever and she did with Marigold and North. I loved how witty and awkward and fresh they were. It was a little weird with the situation, but all I could while I read it was smile.

"Until tomorrow, Marigold Moon." And he kissed her one last time.


Your Temporary Santa by David Levithan - 0/5

I decided not to read this short story because the past two books I've read by David Levithan I've hated. Detested. That's not to say that you guys wouldn't like the story because it does sound interesting and it is about a gay couple.


Krampuslauf by Holly Black - 0/5

This short story by Holly Black didn't appeal to me at all. I wish it did, because I'm sure Holly Black has a great writing style, but when I think of Holly Black writing a book I think of Faeries and Vampires, not two humans falling in love.


What The Hell Have You Done, Sophie Roth by Gayle Forman - 3.5/5

I really enjoyed this cute story. It was warm, fuzzy and super cute. I love Gayle Forman's writing and the characters Sophie and Russell were perfect together. I got butterflies in my stomach. I did take over an hour to read this because I haven't read anything is about 2 weeks.


Beer Buckets and Baby Jesus by Myra McIntire - 4/5

AHHH! I loved this short story so much. I was expecting it to be a 2 or 3 star rating, but I absolutely fell in love with the characters and the story. Prankster and the priest's daughter as a pair? You'd never see it, but it was all about forgiving and family and it was the perfect read.


Welcome to Christmas, CA by Kiersten White - 3/5

I very much liked this story, but it was also a little generic and predictable. The girl felt like she "lost" her mother when she met Rick, but it turns out that they wanted better for her. I've read it over and over again, but I still enjoyed it.

“But people don't need to remember how it felt to be happy and safe in the past. They need to have hope that they can get there again in the future.”  


Star of Bethlehem by Ally Carter - 4/5

I really really enjoyed this short story. I've heard a lot of mixed feelings about Ally's writing style, but I liked it. The characters were great, the writing was great and the whole premise was great. It was just a cute, quick read.

“I sang because that is what I do when I am happy and when I'm sad. I sang because it is who I am when I am being the best possible version of me.”  


The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer by Laini Taylor - 3/5

This story was definitely a little different, but the writing was so unique, beautiful. I enjoyed the characters a lot and it ended up as a well done Christmas Day read (It's near 1am here on the 25th).

“She wanted to be free, and if she could never be free, at least she wanted to be brave - brave enough not to sell herself, no matter what the payment, or the cost of refusing.”  

 

 

 

 
If you could pick any of your favourite authors to appear in a book like this, who would you choose and why? (pick no more than eight)

Ps, MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
 

 

 

Most Anticipated 2015 Releases

Books. BOOKS. BOOKS!

Wow! It's nearly the end of September and before long 2015 will be with us, and for us book-ish people we are all probably making lists of our most anticipated releases. I know I sure have been. Favourite authors are bringing out books and we all want them immediately, some of which we know we have to wait so long for that we confuse ourselves on whether we should read their most recent one.

So I've jotted down a few releases that I am very excited for. There's about fifteen overall, but I've pulled the list down to five for this blog post. Ps, don't forget to comment what books you're excited for!


BOOK ONE: Lady Midnight (Book 1, The Dark Artifices) by Cassandra Clare.

There's no surprise that this is my most anticipated release. Cassandra Clare is without a doubt one of the best Young Adult authors out there. Her books are addictive and filled with action, but what I love more is that Cassandra Clare includes diverse characters into her books. In fact, Cassandra has stated that she plans to write a transgendered character in one of her series, which I am super happy for. Lady Midnight is planned to be released in September 2015. (There is no cover. Yet.)

Click here for Goodreads page: Lady Midnight



BOOK TWO: I Was Here by Gayle Forman.

Gayle Forman has easily become one of my favourite authors, especially after Where She Went (My review will be up on Wednesday, watch this space!). I was here is another Young Adult contemporary based on a girl, Cody who realises that she never knew her best friend, Meg as well as she thought. It's due to be released on January 27th, so not long to wait.

Click here for Goodreads page: I Was Here




BOOK THREE: The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black.

This is really surprising for me, because I didn't really enjoy The Coldest Girl in Coldtown. I ended up giving up after fifty pages because it was slow paced and Tana didn't really connect to me. However, The Darkest Part of the Forest sounds brilliant. Two teenagers who believe they can stop faeries. There's also a glass coffin in the forest. A GLASS COFFIN! This book is due out in Janurary of 2015.

Click here for Goodreads page: The Darkest Part of the Forest



BOOK FOUR: Confess by Colleen Hoover.

Colleen Hoover should be on everyone's list for anticipated releases. Everyone of her books that I've read (Ugly Love and Maybe Someday) have been amazing, so much feels in everyone. Plus she writes some lovable characters. Ridge and Sydney were perfect, so was Maggie. Tate was such a relatable character with flaws as was Miles. Now I'm excited to read about Owen and Auburn. Plus it's about art, something I've loved since I was a child. Confess is planned to be released in March 2015. (No cover yet.)

Click here for Goodreads page: Confess



BOOK FIVE: Mind Games by Teri Terry.

YES! YES, YES, YES, YES, YES, YES! Teri Terry has another Dystopian/Thriller coming out, like it could get anymore perfect. Slated is one of my all time favourite Dystopia trilogies (Shattered wasn't near as good, but I enjoyed it). And this one had different worlds in there, both the real and virtual. Mind Games will follow a girl called Luna (LOVE THIS NAME!) and is due out in March (Why is everything coming out in March? Insurgent movie, new Colleen Hoover, everything else.)

Click here for Goodreads page: Mind Games

 

Honorary Mentions

 

 

The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows.

 

I've never read anything by Jodi Meadows, but this book has me excited. A high fantasy novel with a female spy and magic. It publishes on March 10th 2015.

 

 

Angelfall (Book 3) by Susan EE.

 

I've been waiting for ages to get my hands on this book (even though there is no title yet.). Angelfall and World After were brilliant and I need this in my life. A post-apocalyptic novel surrounding Angels. Evil angels.

 

 

The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey

 

Once again, I've never read a book by Melissa Grey, but I have wanted too. It's been described as Cassandra Clare's City of Bones and Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone, which excites me! It's published in April 2015 by ATOM.

Book Review: City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

Book Name: City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6)
Author: Cassandra Clare
UK Release Date: 2014
UK Publishers: Walker Books
Summary:

Erchomai, Sebastian had said. I am coming.

Darkness returns to the Shadowhunter world. As their society falls apart around them, Clary, Jace, Simon and their friends must band together to fight the greatest evil the Nephilim have ever faced: Clary's own brother. Nothing in this world can defeat him - must they journey to another world to find the chance?

 

Praise for Cassandra Clare:

'The Mortal Instruments series is a story world I love to live in. Beautiful.' Stephenie Meyer, Author of Twilight.
'Hold on tight for a smart, sexy thrill ride.' Libba Bray , author of The Diviners

'Cassie's writing makes my toes curl with envy. She is the rare writer who can write fast-paced dramatic fantasy with gorgeous language and memorable characters that you grow to love.' Holly Black, author of The Spiderwick Chronicles

Review:

This book was once of my most anticipated books of 2014 after The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness, and this book did not disappoint. The prologue starts off with a new character called Emma Carstairs who I recognised from Cassandra's new series that will be published next year: The Dark Artifices, which I cannot wait for, I need it now! In her POV we find out that it's the start of The Dark War with Sebastien. Which I happened to love because we were met with instant action, nothing boring that would've slowed down the book.

My main worry with the book was that it is over 700 pages long and I weren't sure Cassandra was going to pull it off, especially since I disliked the epilogue to Clockwork Princess, the last book in her prequel series: The Infernal Devices. However, I really believe she gave the series justice and it was an amazing wrap up to the series. The sad part about it is that we have to wait over a year for anything from Cassandra Clare, although we do have her new middle grade series with Holly Black coming out in September or October of this year: The Iron Trials. Yay!

Through my journey of reading through the book there was a lot of heartache. Mainly because one of my favourite characters died. He was such a great character, but I had an instinct he would be killed off because he wasn't really a main character, yet he played an important part in the series. But Cassandra can do no wrong for me, and she knocked the ball out of the park with this characters ending. It was vicious, action-packed and emotional. I've seen no author who can do that apart from her. She's a phenomenon

Anyway back to the book. So much happens and we get to see every character go through a journey of their own and it really helped seeing them all mature in a way that was only slowly developing through out the first five books. They finally worked as a team and included Simon, and it was a pretty great feeling to see that. But my favourite journey was Emma Carstairs. She lost her parents, which is known in the prologue, and she's seen as a weak child. But to me Emma reminds me of a mix of both Clary and Jace. They're both powerful, but also very logical, much like Emma. And I can only think that Cassandra got the idea to have Emma and Julien be like Clary and Simon because it works. Julien and Simon are kind of the same person personality wise, also by the hair. I love that hair!

I could go on and on and on about the City of Heavenly Fire, but I don't want this post to be too long. But I will say that if you haven't started this series then you must. It is incredible, I fly through these books and they're so enjoyable. Cassandra's writing is prim and proper, her characters are very well developed, she knows them so well and her world building is immaculate.

I gave this 5/5 STARS! It is without a doubt the best book in the series for me, and for a lot of people as well, which I'm sure they'll agree with me on. It kept you on your toes and the epilogue couldn't have been any better because it was perfect!