Review: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Title: The Darkest Minds
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Genre: YA Dystopia
Publisher: Quercus Children's Books
Published: November 17th 2016
Page Number: 528
Rating: 3/5

Summary:

When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something frightening enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that got her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that had killed most of America’s children, but she and the others emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they could not control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones. When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. She is on the run, desperate to find the only safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who have escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents. When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at having a life worth living.

REVIEW

With the movie having come out yesterday in the UK I knew I had to read the book first. Back in 2013 I read 50 pages of the book and put it aside, until now. Despite the book being pretty chunky I actually flew through it and I have quite a lot of thoughts. Both positive and negative.

The book actually started out well. We were seeing Ruby working away at the weeds in the garden and then being knocked to the floor from the sound of high pitches and waking up in a ward with a female doctor telling her she's going to be killed. Just the thought of that alone sucked me right into the story, but it went all downhill as soon as Ruby left Thurmond. Ruby ends up running away from those helping her escape and meets 3 other children, who end up becoming her friends and together they all set out to find the Slip Kid who they hope can help them all go home to their families. Their adventure was filled with some intense moments, which really gave a great atmosphere from the writing. It was quick paced and seeing these powers be put into use gave us so much more depth into our characters.

But one thing kept nagging in my mind. My dislike for Ruby. She was naïve and acted on things without thinking anything through, creating destruction along her journey. Not only that but she ended up falling in love with one of the first boy she's seen in 6 years and I couldn't help but eye roll the entire time something romantic was happening between them both. Has The Darkest Minds been told from Chubbs' or Zu's perspective then I probably would have enjoyed the story a lot more as those two were the only characters I even cared about.

So with that, I won't be continuing on with the series. But I will be watching the movie and since the book was mediocre the movie cannot be any worse.

My Favourite Books of 2018 (So far)

Guess who's back in the house,
heels click clacking about?

That's right everyone, I'm finally back from a super long time away from the blog. It's been over a year since my last blog post and so, so much has changed in my life. So today's post I thought I'd make it something that is very easy and fun for me. I've read quite a lot of books so far, especially compared to last year and think this is a great time to showcase some of my favourite books of 2018, so far!

CRASH INTO YOU BY KATIE MCGARRY

Crash into You is the third book in the 'Pushing the Limits' series and I honestly thought no book could out do my love for Pushing the Limits, until Crash into You. Isaiah's back story broke my heart and I loved how much he truly cared and loved Rachel, despite knowing that he may not be her best option for a boyfriend. This book was filled with intense dramatic scenes and the grittiness of the illegal car scenes had me giddy with excitement and while I didn't think Rachel had the guts to continue and help Isaiah she truly outdid herself and showed the boys exactly how it's done. Honestly my favourite couple Katie has ever written.


LORD OF SHADOWS BY CASSANDRA CLARE

I finally got round to reading Lord of Shadows and let me tell you right now that Cassandra Clare did not disappoint with this sequel. Lady Midnight started off slow so I was worried that Lord of Shadows may continue on with that slow pace but it certainly wasn't. So much stuff happened in this sequel and I loved the constant action after action. Seeing the characters work through their teenage life while also finding a murderer and battling demons is ever so fun.


LEAH ON THE OFFBEAT BY BECKY ALBERTALLI

I honestly was never a fan of Leah in Simon VS the Homosapiens Agenda, mainly because I hardly got to know her character. We knew very little, however, in her own book she shines. Leah is a self confessed big girl with a lot of sarcastic wit and a love for both men and women. I really enjoyed getting to see everything from her perspective and I loved this so much more than Simon VS. Becky's writing has gotten so much stronger and the relationships between her characters are so special.


LETTERS TO THE LOST BY BRIGID KEMMERER

Can I just say that I think this book will always remain as the biggest surprise of my life. I went into the book without knowing anything about it. I was suffering badly with my depression and my mind was nagging at me to pick up the book and I'm glad I did. Letters to the Lost is a raw, luscious, heart wrenching novel that makes you emotionally invested. Anyone who has ever lost a loved one will understand the pain Juliet was feeling.


MORE THAN WE CAN TELL BY BRIGID KEMMERER

More Than We Can Tell packs a punch. Literally. It tells the story of Emma who's trying to survive in the game world that's predominantly male and Rev who's trying to overcome his horrible past. At first both characters aren't sure how to act around each other, mainly because despite going to the same school they've never actually met before. But it's pretty sure to say that their love grew from strength to strength. I absolutely loved this book!

The 'Where Have I Been?' Book Haul

I'm finally on the last post of the week so I thought I would treat you guys with a book haul showcasing some of the books I've recently acquired, whether it be for review or ones I bought myself. Now if you do have any thoughts on the books I've recently gotten then please leave a comment but no spoilers, I beg you.

 

REVIEW COPIES

 

 

So over the last few weeks I've not been accepting as many books for review, mainly because I know I'm not going to have the time to read and review them in the time span that publishers or authors want. However, when I get the option to receive some books I've been anticipating then I will accept.

 

Because You Love to Hate Me edited by Ameriie is a YA Anthology where 13 authors pair up with 13 Booktubers to create a short story based around the Villains we love to hate. Now this book doesn't come out until July but Bloomsbury were nice enough to send me a signed sampler of the book.

 

Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray has been on my wishlist since I found out about it and while this UK cover doesn't have the same appeal as the US edition I'm still super pumped to read what's on the inside. Hot Key Books were super lovely in sending this to me and I cannot wait to step into space and take a short vacation.

 

Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer was sent to me by the ever so lovely Bloomsbury. Honestly Bloomsbury never fail to supply me with incredible books and I'm super excited to getting around to reading this one. I've heard it's a real tear jerker with a lot of home truths.

 

Release by Patrick Ness was sent to me by Walker Books UK the day it released in the UK and I'm so intrigued by this one. Essentially I thought it was just a coming out story within a religious household but the story also contains chapters from the ghost of the girl who's recently passed away. It holds this appeal and my friends have whispered nothing but high praise for this one.

 

 

 

BOOKS I BOUGHT THAT LEFT ME A POOR MAN

 

 

Lately I've been treating myself to US hardcovers because they're so pretty and also smaller than a standard UK hardcover. Plus the UK hardcovers normally end up with a demented spine because they're bound so tightly. One of these books was bought when I went to Liverpool for the day and partied the night away with RuPauls Drag Race Ambassador, The Vivienne.

 

Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh ended up on my anticipated list after I read - and fell in love with - her debut novel The Wrath & The Dawn. It was beautifully written with such lyrical prose'. I just knew I had to have more of her writing so I instantly pre-ordered it. Flame in the Mist has been described as 47 Ronin meets Mulan and I am so ready for that.

 

Until Friday Night by Abbi Glines is actually one of my all time favourite YA Contemporary books, so I instantly needed to treat myself to the hardback copy. In fact I have the hardback copy of book 2 on it's way to me as well since the covers are so ascetically pleasing. It's a book that really hits home and also shouts out about controlling relationships. Abbi Glines can never do anything wrong for me.

 

Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson really spoke to me when I was up Liverpool and shopped their Waterstones. Following the story of an unexpectedly pregnant sixteen year old Mary B Addison who's in jail because she murdered a 3 month old baby when she was 9. Allegedly. Need I say more about this one.

 

 

 

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli shouldn't have really been in here. In fact I wasn't going to pick it up until a friend of mine reviewed it and said that it was one of the best contemporaries she's read in years. And that was saying something as said friend isn't the biggest contemporary fan. Now it does sound like there's the possibility of a love triangle, which I'm not too fussed on but the synopsis had me gushing.

 

Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han was the book I got half price when I purchased The Upside of Unrequited. I've not even started book one in this trilogy but I do now own all three books which means I can do some serious marathoning over the summer. I'm expecting meet-cute romance and a lot of drama.

 

Contagion by Teri Terry was a lovely surprise I found in my local WHSmiths as the book isn't actually out until later in the month so I'm so grateful that WHSmiths had it out super early for me to add to my Teri Terry collection. One girl missing. Two people out to find her. An epidemic that's sweeping the country. Why would I need anything else in my life?

 

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas is officially a book that intimidates me. I've not even started ACOMAF yet but seeing the size of this beauty has me scared. I'm sure my feelings are not prepared for the awesomeness that will ensue.

 

 

Books With Taboo Topics | My Summer TBR

I cannot believe that this is my third blog post this week, it's crazy! I've been so busy with work and life in general that I've kind of forgotten about my blog and reviewing books. Does that make me a bad book blogger? It probably does, however, reviewing books doesn't pay my bills; my job does. Now this post is going to be about a few of the books I want to read this summer that deal with very taboo topics in YA. 2015 saw the introduction of books focusing more on mental illnesses which is great but I've slowly seen its decline again and I don't want it to be forgotten.

WHEN WE COLLIDED BY EMERY LORD

This book was massively talked about last year on Booktuber as its US publisher sponsored a lot of videos for it to be promoted in. However, I'm totally excited to read this one. It follows two characters Vivi and Jonah who are both lost souls in the world and when their world collides it creates fireworks. The book heavily deals with depression and grief, which I'm interested to see how Emery deals with it as I'm currently reading her 2017 release 'The Names They Gave Us' and I really love her writing style and views on faith.


ALLEGEDLY BY TIFFANY D. JACKSON

The story of a sixteen year old teenager, Mary B Addison is in prison and unexpectedly pregnant with the guy she's fallen in love with child. Mary B Addison allegedly murdered a 3 month old white baby when she was 9, except with this news of pregnancy Mary realises the truth needs to be finally told to stop the state from taking away her unborn child. Now I've never read anything like this in my life and I'm so excited to read something that's so taboo. I'm intrigued to see how the author will deal with the alleged murder and teenage pregnancy.


HISTORY IS ALL YOU LEFT ME BY ADAM SILVERA

Adam Silvera is a well loved author as his books tackle real life issues in a brilliant and realistic way. History is All You Left Me caught my attention before it released as it follows a gay guy named Griffin who struggles with OCD and it gets worse after the death of his first boyfriend/best friend. And despite his struggled feelings the only person who seems to understand him is Jackson, the boy he's supposed to hate. I'm just super excited to finally getting around to reading this book. I've heard it's beautiful and lyrical and really raw, honest.



What books are you looking forward to reading?
Let me know in the comments.

Books I Wish Had A Sequel

This week I'm really working hard on bringing you guys a post each day of the week except the weekend. So that is five brand new content of work from me, all different and all relating to our favourite things in the world; books. So todays topic is books I would love a sequel to. Now all three books are standalones, however, I do sometimes feel that while the ending is nice there is still so much more I want from these books, or another POV I'd like to see. Now my list does only consist of three books but all the books on this list are some of my all time favourites.

I WAS HERE BY GAYLE FORMAN

In 'I Was Here' we know that Megan has committed suicide, we know she's battled with depression which may seem unusual as to why I'd love a story from her POV. Set before her ending in life and after she starts at her new school. I want to see what really factored into her suicide and what her final thoughts were. And while that may seem personal I really feel like there's a lesson to be learned from it.


ELEANOR AND PARK BY RAINBOW ROWELL

We've all mentioned how we'd love a sequel to this story, because the truth is Eleanor and Parks story is not over. Even Rainbow mentioned that herself when I went to a book signing of hers back in 2014 and she mentioned that Eleanor and Park always felt like a duology but the two combining books being set years apart. And it totally makes sense. Do Eleanor and Park finally reconnect? Are they happy with other people? This is the important stuff I want - and need - to know.


THE HATE U GIVE BY ANGIE THOMAS

THUG is one of my favourite books of this year and I know Angie has announced that there will be another book set in the same world, which I'm so excited about because Angie just delivers on a raw, fresh narrative that we don't see often in YA. Now for myself I'd really love to see a story about DeVante and how he copes with leaving the gang and what happens in the gang world, because normally their motto is "Once your in you can never leave". I also want to see what happens with his future as I believe he has some great things ahead of him.



So those are a few of the books I'd love to see a sequel to.
What books do you wish could have a sequel?
Let me know in the comments.

Review: Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

Title: Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices #1)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Genre: YA Paranormal / Fantasy
Publisher: Simon and Schuster UK
Published: March 8th 2016
Page Number: 698
Rating: 4.5/5

Summary:

It’s been five years since the events of City of Heavenly Fire that brought the Shadowhunters to the brink of oblivion. Emma Carstairs is no longer a child in mourning, but a young woman bent on discovering what killed her parents and avenging her losses.

Together with her parabatai Julian Blackthorn, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches across Los Angeles, from the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica. If only her heart didn’t lead her in treacherous directions…

Making things even more complicated, Julian’s brother Mark—who was captured by the faeries five years ago—has been returned as a bargaining chip. The faeries are desperate to find out who is murdering their kind—and they need the Shadowhunters’ help to do it. But time works differently in faerie, so Mark has barely aged and doesn’t recognize his family. Can he ever truly return to them? Will the faeries really allow it?

 

REVIEW

 

It's been a long time since I've had anything to do with the Shadowhunter world and I'm being honest when I said I was scared to delve into Lady Midnight. I had heard the great reviews and I know Cassandra Clare is one of my all time favourite authors, which is what made me nervous. What if I didn't like the book?

 

Well, luckily enough I actually loved Lady Midnight. In fact I think this one is Cassandra most richest story yet. It jumps straight into the story 5 years after the events of City of Heavenly Fire and follows Emma Carstairs who's out for revenge on the people who murdered her parents, now she has even more problems when humans and faeries are turning up dead, burned, drowned and covered in unusual markings.

 

Now it did take a while for the story to really take off. Until page 140 not much was going on. We were getting to know the new characters, their personalities and lives and the issues that surround the LA Institue, which is fun and all but once the story got going then it went to a whole new level. Emma's character only grew in maturity and getting to see her relationship and feelings for Simon blossom in a realistic way was so refreshing. I also loved Mark and Kieran together. My only question with those two is on Kieran's sexuality, which has nothing to do with the book but my curious mind is wanting the answer. I also really appreciated the family orientation in this book, Julien being a father to his younger brother and sisters made me appreciate what I have in life.

When we find out who's behind the murders I'm being honest when I say I was left disappointed, only because I really liked that character. They were loving and fun but it also made total sense since that character also left you feeling uneasy as to why they acted a certain way.

With Cassandra's beautiful writing and a deep, rich world I'm one hundred percent sure that all Shadowhunter fans will love this book just as much as her previous series. My only not to future readers would be to make sure you read 'Tales From the Shadowhunter Academy' as it really helps and slowly introduces some characters who will turn up into the Lady Midnight book.

 

 

Buy the book (Wordery) | Buy the book (Book depository)

ARC Review: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Title: The Hate U Give
Author: Angie Thomas
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publisher: Walker Books
Published: April 6th 2017
Page Number: 438
Rating: 5/5

Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighbourhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend, Khalil, at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, Khalil’s death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Starr’s best friend at school suggests he may have had it coming. When it becomes clear the police have little interest in investigating the incident, protesters take to the streets and Starr’s neighbourhood becomes a war zone. What everyone wants to know is: What really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does—or does not—say could destroy her community. It could also endanger her life.

 

REVIEW

The Hate U Give may just be the best book I'll read this year.

The hype has been well alive since the announcement of the book and with each and every review that came in - including those 8 starred reviews - I wasn't sure if it was going to live up to it. However, Angie Thomas really delivered a raw, poignant novel with a relevant narrative that showcases the harsh lives of Black people.

Starr lives one of two lives: Her life in Garden Heights filled with shootings and Drug Lords and then her life at Williamson Prep, a boarding school for the white and rich. Tying between two complete opposite communities leaves her feeling restless and after the murder of her childhood friends takes place in front of her she has to choose which side to take: Remaining silent or getting justice for Khalil.

Starting the novel I wasn't too sure what I really thought of the writing as I've never experienced a book in the narrative of a black character from what I would call the 'Hood'. It's ratchet talk to me, however, it was needed for it to be fresh and honest. Every character interaction only showed me just how difficult black people have it, but also how narrow minded some of their older generation could be in regards to interracial relationships.

I can't pretend to understand how people in these circumstances feel but we can all be empathetic and sympathetic in times of needs and learn to understand what they're going through, which Angie Thomas did well for me. The Hate U Give was a learning curve for me, an education I never saw coming but ended up being thankful for.

It's books like this one that deserve to be Number 1 New York Times Bestsellers. It's books like this one that everyone deserves to read because it's impactful, important. A story that needs to be told because otherwise we'll just continue being ignorant. Sometimes your voice is more powerful than words but words were enough in this case. The Hate U Give is imprinted in my heart, soul and mind. It's constantly with me in my every day life and that's why I think it'll be hard to knock this from my number 1 spot this year.

 

 

 

Buy the book (Wordery) | Buy the book (Book Depository)

 

 

A copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher, Walker Books UK for an honest opinion.

Review: Beast by Brie Spangler

Title: Beast
Author: Brie Spangler
Genre: YA Contemporary / Retelling
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Published: October 11th 2016
Page Number: 336
Rating: 3.5/5

Summary:

Tall, meaty, muscle-bound, and hairier than most throw rugs, Dylan doesn’t look like your average fifteen-year-old, so, naturally, high school has not been kind to him. To make matters worse, on the day his school bans the two things that let him hide, his hat and his long hair, Dylan goes up on his roof, only to fall and wake up in the hospital with a broken leg—and a mandate to attend group therapy for self-harmers.

Dylan vows to say nothing and zones out during therapy—until he meets Jamie. She’s funny, smart, and so stunning, even his womanizing best friend, JP, would be jealous. She’s also the first person to ever call Dylan out on his superficiality. As Jamie’s humanity and wisdom begin to rub off on Dylan, they become more than just friends. But there is something Dylan doesn’t know about Jamie, something she shared with the group the day he wasn’t listening. Something that shouldn’t change a thing. She is who she’s always been—an amazing photographer, a true romantic hidden inside a realist, and a devoted friend, who is also transgender. Will Dylan’s hang-ups about himself cause him to lose the best girl he’s ever known?

REVIEW

 

I've had my eye on Beast for quite some time now and when I finally sat down to read it I was left feeling a little deflated. My goal for 2017 is to read more books that feature diversity. Whether that be in sexuality, religion, ethnicity. I just want to be more open minded that I am. I was hoping Beast was going to educate myself and other people on what it means to be transgender and transgender issues in regards to dating, however, I felt like the way the author portrayed the issues was in a way that felt under valued and not all there.

 

At least it did to me.

 

Dylan and Jamie should be seen as a guy and girl in love but it's continuously brought up, even by Dylan that she's just a girl with a penis and it left me feeling uncomfortable. I wanted to see acceptance even though I know not everyone is. I just thought Dylan would have had a more positive attitude towards it even after he accepted it the first time. Two steps forward and a hundred steps back is how you'd describe their relationship. So naïve.

 

However, what I really enjoyed about the book was the loving support from Dylan's mother. She embraced it, knowing all the hardship Dylan would go through and went and educated herself on gender and sexual identity. That warmed my hard as I know so few LGBT people get that in their life times. I also really loved how passionate Jamie was about life. She never let anything get in her way, she stood open and proud, which paired with Dylan's strong personality despite his insecurities really endearing.

 

I know my review is slightly negative but I'm trying to get the point out there that transgender issues are so important to portray correctly. I'm passionate about gender identity, always will be. I want people out there who want to educate themselves a little by reading fictional works to be a little educated with each book they read.

 

 

 

 

Buy this book (Book Depository)

Anticipated Reads of 2017 | Part One

I can already feel that 2017 is going to be the year of books; both Young Adult and New Adult. 2016 was pretty much a lacklustre year for myself and reading but this year I am opening myself to new journeys. This post will be split up into two different posts. This post will feature books published from January to the end of June. Part Two will then feature books from July to the end of December. The reason I've split the posts up are because I didn't want to have a post that's too long, also most of
the books published after June don't really have covers so waiting to post Part Two in June will mean the books on the list should have had their covers revealed by then.

So here are my most anticipated releases from January- June....


LONG WAY HOME BY KATIE MCGARRY
Harlequin Teen - 31st January

I'm saddened that Long Way Home is due to be the last book in the thunder road series. It was confirmed to me by Katie McGarry herself on twitter. Originally this was going to be a four book series but Ha
rlequin Teen had changed their mind and only wanted three books. Violet and Chevy have been the vocal point of the series with every reader wanting to know whether or not they'll put their differences aside and give a relationship a try? We also get a sneak peek back into the world of the Pushing the Limit series as Violet and Chevy meet Isaiah and Rachel along the way.



HISTORY IS ALL YOU LEFT ME BY ADAM SILVERA
Simon & Schuster Children - 9th February

A story of grief, heartache and love. History is All You Left Me follows Griffin whose ex-boyfriend, Theo has passed away. With all the hurt Griffin is going through he ends up connecting to Jackson, Theo's boyfriend who is the only person who understands his heartache. However, Griffin's OCD is getting worse and the only way he can find himself is by opening up and fronting his past.


LIKE A MEMORY BY ABBI GLINES
Self-published - 14th February

It was only recent when Abbi announced that Seabreeze would be meeting Rosemary Beach and I was a little shook. Having only finished both series last year and now being able to read Bliss and Nate's story so soon after is possibly the best thing to happen in 2017. Bliss and Nate met when they were teenagers, fell in love for the first time. But now 10 years have passed and they're reuniting again. The only word I can think of right now for this book is heartbreak because I'm sure I'm either going to be crying or laughing and crying while wanting more.



THE HATE U GIVE BY ANGIE THOMAS
Balzer & Bray - 28th February

Inspired by the #blacklivesmatter movement, Angie Thomas had written a novel so at the heart of America that it's become a must on anyone's 2017 TBR's. The book follows 16 year old Starr who's the only witness to the murder of her friend Khalil by a police officer. When it becomes a media phenomenon, Starr's life is threatened. What she says could ruin a community, what she says could get her killed.


A COURT OF WINGS AND RUIN BY SARAH J MAAS
Bloomsbury Children's - 2nd May

I'm not sure what to say about ACOWAR as I've still yet to read A Court of Mist and Fury, however, I absolutely loved A Court of Thorns and Roses. It was one of my favourite books of 2015 and I'm super excited to continue on with Feyre's journey and also get to know Rhysand more. From what I've heard the ending of A Court of Mist and Fury left everyone's jaw dropping and eyes popped in shock so that does intrigue me to get reading it. As of now there is no cover or synopsis for book three in this retelling series.



FLAME IN THE MIST BY RENEE AHDIEH
Putnam and Juvenile - 16th May

Described and Mulan meets Ronin 47 set in Rural Japan. That was all it took to have me hooked. Mulan is one of my absolute favourite movies and it's about time we saw some more retellings surrounding the baddest Disney Heroine. From the synopsis, our main character Mariko is forced into an arranged marriage for political power, however, while on the way there they get hijacked so she pretends to be a guy and joins the Black Clan who were hired to kill her. While getting closer and closer with the Clan she discovers things that make her question everything she's ever known.


LORD OF SHADOWS BY CASSANDRA CLARE
Simon and Schuster Children's - 23rd May

I will read anything Cassandra Clare writes, including her weekly shopping lists. Who am I kidding, she probably has people who do her shopping for her. Now while I've not read Lady Midnight I am super excited for the release of Lord of Shadows. First of all the cover is absolutely gorgeous but the series also has a character named Kieran (Same as my own) and has a character that happens to be Bisexual. I'm all about diversity and Cassandra Clare just knows how to write diverse characters who happen to go through the biggest battles of their lives.


ONCE AND FOR ALL BY SARAH DESSEN
Penguin Books - June 8th

I never grew up with Sarah Dessen. In fact I never even heard of her until 2015 when people started mentioning her on Booktube. I read 'Along For the Ride' and next thing you know I was hooked on her books. Once and For All follows a girl whose life surrounds weddings since her mother is a wedding planner. She also doesn't believe in true love, not since her first love broke her heart. After meeting Ambrose, a serial dater, she starts to question whether true love does exist.



Now I know there are a lot more fantastic books coming out this year, but like I said, this will be a 2 part series with the second part being posted in June. At the minute I have my list all saved for that post but I'm just waiting on covers and some synopsis' to be revealed. Anyway, not that this post is up why don't you let me know what books you guys are excited for?

Books That Deal With Mental Illness

Back when I originally started to write this I was feeling very down. I was feeling more and more depressed over a sort period of time and I was having suicidal thoughts. I was struggling with life. My parents were noticing a change but I would just ignore it all and hope it'd go away with time. I was speaking to a friend online who made me see sense and  instead I raised the issues and decided to work on them. I'm feeling a lot better now. I'm happy as I could be, working hard to earn money to save for possibly going to University next year in 2017.

So with the feelings I had at the time, I wanted to visit some of the books that gave me a more positive view on mental health. So that's why I want to recommend some books to you guys. And in case any of you guys are having any negative thoughts, please tell someone. A friend, a family member or you can even speak to online forums: a place where I made so many amazing friends.

Now all of these books are amazing and I highly recommend them but I'm going to put these in order of how they affected me. Both personally and emotionally....



WHERE SHE WENT BY GAYLE FORMAN (IF I STAY #2)

A lot of people who's seen the 'If I Stay' movie don't know that there's actually a sequel in book form. 'If I Stay' is a good book and the movie is just as book, but 'Where She Went' really did something to be. I never connected to Adam in 'If I Stay' but him having grown up by 3 years and sadly dealing with depression in 'Where She Went' made me connect to him so much. I felt his emotions and I understood him completely, it's one of those novels that stay with you for a long time. And to this date I'm still very much in love with it. So much so that I have a necklace with a quote from the novel inside.

"You were trying so hard to be my saviour that you left me all alone."

 

 

I WAS HERE BY GAYLE FORMAN

 

Another Gayle Forman book that absolutely left me a sobbing wreck. This book is a YA Standalone that doesn't just deal with depression but also suicide and while the main character has nothing to do with those mental illness the importance of those factors isn't taken away from the novel. Gayle Forman did her research and wrote a book that everyone could connect to. The last page of 'I Was Here' isn't just a memorial but it's also a celebration of those who have lost their lives to suicide. We don't always get to have out voices but it doesn't mean that it's the end of us. Beautifully written with so much emotion and drama.

 

"I was here."

 

 

 

THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER BY MICHELLE HODKIN

 

It's unusual to have a YA Paranormal Romance series on this list but this is one of my favourite series because of how well Michelle Hodkin splits them both up but makes them the same. The series follows an incredibly insane narrator, she's someone you

can't trust. While the book has supernatural things going on, it also stays realistic in the mental health side. It's beautifully romantic but a complete and utter mind fuck. That's what keeps you going with this series.

 

"Thinking something does not make it true. Wanting something does not make it real."

 

 

 

PUSHING THE LIMITS BY KATIE MCGARRY

 

'Pushing the Limits' deals with a lot of different mental illnesses but the main one it deals with is grief. Our main character, Echo is still trying to get over her older brother's death. The one person who she knew she could trust on. However, it also dealt with other issues that were very well written and researched. Its one of the things I love about Katie McGarry, she does physical research into her stories. She goes that extra mile. 'Pushing the Limits' is emotional and brave. It's beautiful and realistic. It's a book that everyone can relate to.

 

“I've already lost a piece of my mind. I can't trust you with what's left.” 

 

 

 

AM I NORMAL YET? BY HOLLY BOURNE

 

I, myself didn't rate this book highly but it wasn't due to it being badly written or the parts dealing with mental illness were not realistic. I had other reasons. But Am I Normal Yet? is possibly one of the best book to read about Anxiety. The way Holly depicts the feelings is so realistic. You feel exactly what the character is feeling and it was nice being able to find a story that I related to so well. The book follows a college student called Evie who's just trying to live a normal life, making friends and dating boys. But the issue is, Evie has anxiety and also suffers with OCD.

 

“Everyone's on the cliff edge of normal. Everyone finds life an utter nightmare sometimes, and there's no 'normal' way of dealing with it... There is no normal, Evelyn.”  

 

 

 

 

What books would you recommend that deal with mental illness?

Let me know in the comments!

Review: Walk The Edge by Katie McGarry

Title: Walk The Edge (Thunder Road #2)
Author: Katie McGarry
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publisher: Mira Ink
Published: March 10th 2016
Page Number: 442
Rating: 3.5/5

Summary:
One moment of recklessness will change their worlds

Smart. Responsible. That's seventeen-year-old Breanna's role in her large family, and heaven forbid she put a toe out of line. Until one night of shockingly un-Breanna-like behavior puts her into a vicious cyber-bully's line of fire—and brings fellow senior Thomas "Razor" Turner into her life.

Razor lives for the Reign of Terror motorcycle club, and good girls like Breanna just don't belong. But when he learns she's being blackmailed over a compromising picture of the two of them—a picture that turns one unexpected and beautiful moment into ugliness—he knows it's time to step outside the rules.

And so they make a pact: he'll help her track down her blackmailer, and in return she'll help him seek answers to the mystery that's haunted him—one that not even his club brothers have been willing to discuss. But the more time they spend together, the more their feelings grow. And suddenly they're both walking the edge of discovering who they really are, what they want, and where they're going from here.

REVIEW

After reading and loving the first book in this series, Nowhere But Here I was really excited to read Razor's story. Mainly because he was a very mysterious character that seemed to hide a lot of his personality behind being snarky and I really wanted to know more about him and why he acted that way.

I'll be starting this off by saying that this wasn't my favourite Katie McGarry novel, however, it's still a great, entertaining read that kept me glued to the pages. I felt sad for Breanna because she's intelligent and way mature for her age and being told she couldn't go for her dreams because no one would be there to look out for her younger siblings. Especially when her siblings treated her so horribly and her parents barely took the time to get to know the Breanna she was now. Her relationship with Razor is looked against in a bad way due to the reputation of the Motorcycle club but if anything I think Breanna's parents should have been thankful for Razor. He brought her out of her shell and she was finally being true to herself. And that reminded me of Rachel when she met Isaiah in Crash Into You.

Which leads me onto another thing I massively love about Katie McGarry's stories: her characters are always stripped back, raw and honest with inner turmoil going on. Some of the scenes in this book left me shocked, mouth wide open. Especially, when Razor was seeking out answers to his mother's death, and everything seemed to point to the Reign of Terror. I just didn't know who was telling the truth. Why people were keeping their mouths shut?

I really liked the chapters where Oz and Emily appeared. I loved them so much and they're also one of my favourite book couples. The ending in Nowhere But Here was a little rushed for my liking, however, I really appreciated the ending for Razor in this story. It was beautiful and showed a lot of significance for both Razor and Olivia. It had a lot of meaning.

Overall this is another good book in this series, I'm excited to see what will happen in the third - and possibly final book - of the series, Long Way Home. I love Chevy and Violet so I'm excited to be able to see a little into their past.

Buy the book (Wordery) | Buy the book (Book Depository)

5 Books To Read If You Love 'Stranger Things'.

Stranger Things is a Netflix Original series that blew up instantaneously. The day it released I started watching it and didn't finish until I watched every episode. I'm obsessed. It's honestly one of the best shows on TV at the moment leaving you in constant suspense. Now for those that aren't sure what Stranger Things is about it follows the story of a young boy who goes missing in 1980's Indiana and his friends and family have to tackle terrifying forces to get him back. The series is 8 episodes long and a second season has been confirmed.

So today's post is going to be in celebration not only of one of my new favourite TV shows but also in celebration that we will be getting a 2nd series. So just in case you are having withdrawal symptoms from the series, here are 5 books that I'd recommend if you loved Stranger Things.



1. THE TAKING BY KIMBERLEY DERTING

Just like in Stranger Things our main character, Kyra goes mysteriously missing after she runs off from an argument with her father. A flash of white light is seen and *poof* she's gone. She then wakes up in the dumpster of her local gas station and goes home, however, it turns out she's been missing for 5 years and hasn't seemed to age a day. Her father believes it was Aliens that took his daughter but no one will believe him, including Kyra. Until evidence shows otherwise. This book will have you hooked, I read it in under 24 hours and couldn't wait to find out what happened.




2. MONSTER BY C J SKUSE

Six girls trying to survive spending Christmas locked up inside their boarding school all the while something -  The Beast of Bathory - seems to be stalking the school grounds and is intent on killing off the girls one by one. The only way they can get out alive is if they stick together, but nothing is as easy as it seems. Now there's no Sci Fi in this novel but C J Skuse really has you on the edge of your seat in suspense.





3. REPLICA BY LAUREN OLIVER

So Stranger Things is circulated around government conspiracy theories, which was one of my favourite aspects. Just like Stranger Things, Replica tells the story of two teenage girls who are both connected via a dark past, however. Lyra, also known as #24 is a human model who was raised in a research facility. Once she escapes she meets Gemma and the entire world around them crashes and burns. And what's really cool about this book is that it's essentially two books in one. You can either read Gemma and Lyra's story separately or you can read them both together as one continuous novel.




4. DON'T LOOK BACK BY JENNIFER. L ARMENTROUT

Mystery is one of the biggest elements in Stanger Things and when I thought about that mystery concept my mind and soul went straight to Don't Look Back. Samantha and Cassie are best "frenemy's" who seemingly have it all. They're rich, popular and everyone wanted to be them. That is until the night they both go missing and Samantha resurfaces without a recollection of anything that has happened. She's a stranger in her own life. Samantha starts receiving mysterious letters telling her bit by bit on what happened on that night, but finding out the truth could very well be sinister.





5. THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS BY M. R CAREY

Melanie's a little girl trapped in a facility with doctors who call her special. And every morning she's strapped to a wheelchair with a gun pointed at her head while she's making jokes that she won't bite. But in this world, Melanie has no idea what or who she's going to be when she grows up. Because Melanie is special. Melanie is unique. Melanie also happens to be dangerous. The Girl With All The Gifts is an incredible read that captures the readers attention with it's incredible action and pace. Oh, and it's also soon to be coming out in cinemas. *Trailer here*






What's your favourite thing about Stranger Things?
Also what other books would you recommend for us Stranger Things fans?
Let me know in the comments!

Why I've Still Not Read Lady Midnight

So many people have been messaging me on Goodreads wondering why I've not read Lady Midnight. And normally I'd have an answer for that question but I have so many answers that it's difficult to always explain to people. As a reader, I am not someone who can pick up a book just because it's a new release that I have been anticipating. I mean, I have been waiting for Lady Midnight to come out since the ending of The Mortal Instruments, which is a seriously long time. But I'm the type of reader that chooses what they read pending on their mood and the sort of genre they feel like reading.

For example: if I'm stressed out and in the Contemporary mood then I would generally tend to pick a short book to read. Short but sweet and something that'll help with escapism. If it's a sunny day and I want something to reciprocate my mood then I would generally pick something New Adult, possibly something with travel.

And I'm not just a mood reader. Sometimes I like to wait until the second book release date, which I something I'm doing with Lady Midnight. I don't want to be waiting so long for each book to be released, especially forcing myself to read Lady Midnight when I'm just not feeling anything of that genre at this specific place in time. The book is over 700 pages long, so I'll need the time to actually read it and I don't have that time right now.

If you've checked Goodreads like I have then you'd know that it had really good ratings and loads of people are saying it's Cassie's best work yet, which hypes it up too much for me. Hype can ruin my perspective on things because I immediately assume that it's the best piece of literature ever. Which I'm sure it is, because Cassie is one of the best writer's out there. I will eventually read Lady Midnight. But at my own time and at my own pace.



Have you read Lady Midnight?
Let me know your thoughts below!

Review: The Rose Society by Marie Lu

Title: The Rose Society
Author: Marie Lu
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Penguin Books UK
Published: October 15th 2015
Page Number: 448
Rating: 5/5

Summary:

Adelina Amouteru's heart is set on revenge. Now known and feared as the White Wolf, she and her sister flee Kenettra to find other Young Elites in the hopes of building her own army. Her goal: to strike down the Inquisition Axis, the white-cloaked soldiers who nearly killed her.

But Adelina is no heroine. Teren Santoro, leader of the Inquisition, wants her dead. And her former friends at the Dagger Society want to stop her thirst for vengeance. Adelina struggles to cling to the good within her. But how can someone be good, when her very existence depends on darkness?

 

REVIEW

 

At this point of time what I'd most like to do is buy unlimited copies of this book and The Young Elites and hand them out to every person that passes me on the street, because the world is seriously missing out on one of the best YA series I have ever read.

 

After The Young Elites, I wasn't so sure if Marie Lu could get any darker but she certainly did. Adelina is without a doubt one of the most darkest character's you'll ever read in any book, give or take. Her powers know no boundaries and I'm actually scared to see where Marie will take them in the final book of the series, The Midnight Star. I'm honestly not prepared and I don't think I ever will be.

 

With one of my favourite character's being killed off in the Young Elites, I wasn't prepared to let Adelina back into my heart. But I couldn't not let her in, if you get what I mean. She may be an antagonist but it's impossible to not love her. She captures you attention full span and never lets go, you need to know what she's going to do next. You're anticipating it. But I didn't just fall in love with Adelina during this book, I'm pretty sure I grew in love with every darn character. And yes, that does mean Teren as well.

 

One of the new characters, Magiano really helps take the storyline to new places. The Rose Society is dark action to it's maximum capacity with sizzling romantic tension and a shit ton of OTP's to boot. There's just something about Marie Lu's world building and writing that keeps me reading. And just like The Young Elites, I ended up reading this book late way into the night.

 

I regret nothing. And neither will you if you pick this series up. Honestly do yourself a favour.

 

 

Buy the book (Wordery) | Buy the Book (Book Depository)

 

 

 

🎧: Just Like Fire by P!nk

 

 

 

Review: The Crown by Kiera Cass

Title: The Crown
Author: Kiera Cass
Genre: YA Dystopian
Publisher: Harper Collins Kids
Published: May 19th 2016
Page Number: 278
Rating: 4.5/5

Summary:
In The Heir, a new era dawned in the world of The Selection. Twenty years have passed since America Singer and Prince Maxon fell in love, and their daughter is the first princess to hold a Selection of her own.

Eadlyn didn’t think she would find a real partner among the Selection’s thirty-five suitors, let alone true love. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you…and now Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more difficult—and more important—than she ever expected.

REVIEW

It's bittersweet that this series has finally come to an end. As everyone knows, The Selection series was meant to have ended after 'The One' and I did mourn a little after that book. And then Kiera announced that there were going to be 2 more books to the series, which I'm not going to lie, made me happy. I love the world and the characters that Kiera creates because she does it so well.

The Heir wasn't my favourite book in the series, and Eadlyn certainly wasn't a favourite character but Kiera Cass ended the series in a way that shows so much character growth, not just as a teenage girl but also as a Queen. Getting to see her interact with the boys and fight between what she must do as Queen and her heart was special. Eadlyn is young and teenagers fall in love quickly. We're all in or nothing at all.

Who did Eadlyn end up with?

I'm not going to tell, I don't like posting spoiler reviews, especially when it comes to a series. All I will say is that I think everyone will be happy with the outcome. I know I certainly was. But that's the beauty of Kiera Cass, one of my absolute favourite thing about her as an author is how she creates male characters that you root for. You haven't got to like them all but in some crazy way you love them none the less.

For me it honestly felt like Kiera had written this book for us, her readers. She gave us everything that we already love about her series and added that extra bit of panache. I know that I for one will be excited to see what else Kiera has to write.

 

Buy the book (Wordery) | Buy the book (Book Depository)

Review: The Last Summer of Us by Maggie Harcourt

Title: The Last Summer of Us
Author: Maggie Harcourt
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publisher: Usbourne
Published: May 1st 2015
Page Number: 304
Rating: 4/5

Summary:

Limpet, Steffan and Jared. Three best friends crammed into a clapped-out rust bucket of a car on a whirlwind road trip to forget their troubles and see out the end of the summer. But no matter how far they drive, they can’t escape the hidden secrets and slow-burning romance that could upset the balance of their friendship – perhaps forever.

REVIEW

The Last Summer of Us was one of the books I was extremely excited to read because the characters take a road trip around Wales, which I don't think anyone has ever written before. I also happen to live in Wales and while I usually prefer books set in the US, I can't deny that Maggie Harcourt didn't make me want to travel my homeland.

I felt everything these characters felt, I didn't see them as characters written onto a page I saw them as fully fleshed out people, the kind of people I grew up with. And that's something I wasn't expecting. Maggie Harcourt (who's also Welsh) did the Welshism's so well and despite it still being a super fun summer contemporary read the book also deals with heavy topics of death, alcoholism and grief. It's presented in a way that you feel so much for these characters. You're rooting for them in some way or another, and more than anything else I was rooting for their friendship because it's the type of friendship that you know will last a lifetime.

And you know what makes a book good? When you finished the book almost 9 weeks ago but its still very much present in your mind. When I see the book on my shelf, I find myself smiling and remember the journey all three characters went on. And I know for a fact that I will also be rereading this book when summer comes around because it's the type of book that can consume you. And you never know, I may also take my own road trip this year with my friends visiting the places Limpet, Steffan and Jared visited.

But honestly: if you're after a well written YA novel that's a super quick, fun read then this is it. But be prepared to get withdrawal symptoms.

Buy the book (Waterstones) | Buy the book (Amazon)

 

 

🎧: Coming Home by Rita Ora ft Sigma

Review: Kindred Spirits by Rainbow Rowell

Title: Kindred Spirits
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publisher: Macmillan Kids UK
Published: February 25th 2016 (World Book Day Book)
Page Number: 96
Rating: 4/5

Summary:
'Everybody likes everything these days. The whole world is a nerd.'
'Are you mad because other people like Star Wars? Are you mad because people like me like Star Wars?'
'Maybe.' If you broke Elena's heart, Star Wars would spill out. So when she decides to queue outside her local cinema to see the new movie, she's expecting a celebration with crowds of people who love Han, Luke and Leia just as much as she does. What she's not expecting is to be last in a line of only three people; to have to pee into a collectible Star Wars soda cup behind a dumpster or to meet that unlikely someone who just might truly understand the way she feels.

REVIEW

 

For those who don't know what a World Book Day book is, they're basically short stories that some authors write that sell for £1 on World Book Day in hopes to get people into reading. So, I received Kindred Spirits in a special package from Macmillan - Thanks Kat! - I knew I had to start reading Kindred Spirits straight away and I'm so happy I did because despite it's size, I got so much out of it. I learned then Kindred Spirits isn't a book for just Star Wars fans, it's a book for everyone who is apart of a Fandom; getting together with people who bleed the same thing you do and building up friendships from doing so.

 

Rainbow Rowell does what she does best and that is creating characters that you fall in love with so easily, she mastered it with her short story 'Midnight' and she did it again. I want a full novel on Elena. She's quirky and fun, and slightly reminded me of a mixture of both Eleanor from 'Eleanor and Park' and Cath from 'Fangirl'. And then we have Gabe. Sweet, awkward Gabe. I honestly couldn't help but fall in love with him, he's the kid in high school that we all recognise immediately; nerdy and gangly and stands out too much in a crowd even if they try to hide themselves, it never works! There also is the fact that Elena's friends happen to bully him as well and Elena tends to just sit by and not say anything, so you can't actually dislike him for hating Elena, I would to. But I just love how they worked together in the short story to become sort of friends.

 

Would I pee in a Starbucks cup like Elena had to? No.

Would I recommend you pick this short story up? Hell, yes!

 

 

 

🎧 : Out of the Blue by Adore Delano

 

ARC Review: This is Where the World Ends by Amy Zhang

Title: This is Where the World Ends
Author: Amy Zhang
Genre: YA Contemporary / Mystery
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Published: March 22nd 2016
Page Number: 304
Rating: 2/5

Summary:

Janie and Micah, Micah and Janie. That’s how it’s been ever since elementary school, when Janie Vivien moved next door. Janie says Micah is everything she is not. Where Micah is shy, Janie is outgoing. Where Micah loves music, Janie loves art. It’s the perfect friendship—as long as no one finds out about it. But then Janie goes missing and everything Micah thought he knew about his best friend is colored with doubt.

 

REVIEW

As soon as I read the synopsis for this novel, I knew I had to read it. I love YA Contemporary that also has that hint of Mystery that has you trying to guess what's happened, and 'This is Where the World Ends' was completely compelling and captured my attention completely.

The story is told in duo POV between Janie and Micah, and while I liked getting differing POV's I also felt like this is where the story also became a little...repetitive and annoying. Micah as a character is incredibly hard to relate to because he has no idea what happened that night and he's on a journey to finding out what happened but because he has no idea he tends to lash out quite a lot and second guess things. I wanted to like Micah and in the beginning I was rooting for him; I was rooting for him because of his friendship with Janie but by the end of the novel the only feelings I had for him were hatred. I quite liked Janie. We didn't get to see the full story from her POV but what we did see was insightful and I could see how anyone would be friends with her.

The whole book is based on trying to find out what happened that night, the night of the accident and I was really looking forward to finding out but the end result was disappointing, I felt like it was a cop out, like it was the easy root to take and I just didn't appreciate that. I thought the whole twist would have been life changing but it just wasn't.

I'd still recommend the book because it was like nothing else I've read before and we all need something entirely out of our comfort zones to read.

Pre-order the book (Wordery) | Pre-order the book (Book Depository)

 

🎧: Gentle Face Massage and Cleansing Role Play by Deluca ASMR

Interview with Author, C J Skuse | Blog Tour

Hi guys,

So I know I've been MIA for a while but today I'm bringing you something so exciting, something I'm super happy I got to take part in. As part of the 'Monster' Blog Tour being run by Mira Ink and MaximumPop Books I got to interview the author of Monster, C J Skuse. I got introduced to C J when we both followed each other on Twitter and had a few conversations with each other through tweets.

So without further ado, lets get into the interview.



Question 1. What is Monster about?

Ostensibly, it's about six girls who become trapped at their remote boarding school during one snowy Christmas holiday and an horrific murderous beast is outside trying to get in and rip them all to pieces. It's also about a girl who needs to dig deep to find out how strong she truly is - and only facing off with such a monster can bring that out.


Question 2. What inspired you to write Monster?

A few things really - seeing a news article about the Beast of Bodmin Moor. A big desire to write a story set in a boarding school. I also really wanted to write something with an all female group at its helm, like Amazon women, fighting now only to remain civil to one another but also to survive against all the odds.


Question 3. Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Always keep your phone on you, don't fear the mad girl and find out where the key to the javelin cupboard is kept.


Question 4. Did you read as a child, if so who did you most look up to?

As a child I loved Roald Dahl, Beatrix Potter and Enid Blyton. I really looked up to Beatrix Potter because she did all her own illustrations too. I couldn't draw at all. I still draw the way I did when I was eight, with people having arms at right angles and the sky being a strip of blue half way up the page.


Question 5. What are some of your favourite current reads?

You can't go wrong with a bit of UKYA/UKMG. Anything by Keris Stainton, Cat Clarke, CJ Daughtry, Kevin Brooks, Keren David, Holly Bourne, Jo Nadin, Emma Haughton, Hilary Freeman, Anthony McGowan, Fiona Dunbar, Louise O'Neill, Melvin Burgess, Helen Grant, Non Pratt, Zoe Marriott or Lee Weatherly gets my vote.


Question 6. We know that Monster was recently released but are you working on anything new?

I've just completed 'The Deviants', that's the next one out this time next year. It's been described as The Famous Five meets We Were Liars and it's probably the most important book I've done so far. I'm plotting Book 6 now. That one is, well, interesting. Doesn't look like it's going to be YA this time either so I'm a bit scared and probably a lot out of my depth.


Question 7. Did you learn anything from writing your books, and what was it?

I have always written for one reason - to write the monsters out of my head. It's a catharsis for me and sometimes I need it like medicine. I wrote my first book to work out how I felt about losing someone. I wrote Rockoholic to compartmentalise my obsession with an unattainable life. I wrote Dead Romantic to give Death the middle finger and to work out what I wanted from love. I've learned something new with every book I have written. With Monster, I've learned to focus my anger on an objective, rather than just lashing out all the time.


Question 8. What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Choose a story to tell which you are passionate about because sometimes it's only your own passion for it that keeps you going. Start as you mean to go on. Don't write for the market because the market will leave you behind. Ignore the haters but embrace the criticism. Find a decent literary agent who loves your work as much as you do at the earliest opportunity. Don't let life get in the way - JK Rowling is right when she says you need to be ruthless about protecting your writing time. And be prepared for a long wait. Nothing happens quickly in publishing unless you're very lucky and hit a trend (accidentally) at the right time.


Question 9.  What's your favourite thing about Halloween?

When it's over.


Question 10. Would you like to say anything to your readers?

Thank you for being insane enough to take a chance on my books and sane enough to enjoy them. I'm always trying to be better for you. And stop breaking my spines. I hate that. *inserts smiley face*




ABOUT THE STORY

At sixteen Nash thought that the fight to become Head Girl of the prestigious boarding school, Bathory would be the biggest battle she'd face. Until her brother's disappearance leads to Nash being trapped at the school over Christmas with Bathory's assorted Misfits. As a blizzard rages outside, strange things are afoot in the school's hallways, and legends of the mysterious Beast of Bathory - a big cat rumoured to room the moors outside the school - run wild. Yet when the girls' Matron goes missing it's clear that something altogether darker is to blame - and that they'll have to stick it out together if they hope to survive.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

C.J. SKUSE is the author of the Young Adult novels PRETTY BAD THINGS, ROCKOHOLIC and DEAD ROMANTIC (Chicken House) and MONSTER (Mira Ink). She was born in 1980 in Weston-super-Mare, England. She has First Class degrees in Creative Writing and Writing for Children and, aside from writing novels, works as a freelance children's fiction consultant and lectures in Writing for Children at Bath Spa University. C.J. is currently working on her second novel THE DEVIANTS for Mira Ink.
Follow her on Twitter @CeejaytheAuthor




MAKE SURE YOU CHECK OUT http://realitysabore.blogspot.co.uk/ TOMORROW FOR THE LAST DAY OF THE 'MONSTER' BLOG TOUR!