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Book Review: Another Little Piece by Kate Karyus Quinn

Piece cover

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“The spine-tingling horror of Stephen King meets an eerie mystery worthy of Sara Shepard’s Pretty Little Liars series in Kate Karyus Quinn’s haunting debut.

On a cool autumn night, Annaliese Rose Gordon stumbled out of the woods and into a high school party. She was screaming. Drenched in blood. Then she vanished.

A year later, Annaliese is found wandering down a road hundreds of miles away. She doesn’t know who she is. She doesn’t know how she got there. She only knows one thing: She is not the real Annaliese Rose Gordon.

Now Annaliese is haunted by strange visions and broken memories. Memories of a reckless, desperate wish . . . a bloody razor . . . and the faces of other girls who disappeared. Piece by piece, Annaliese’s fractured memories come together to reveal a violent, endless cycle that she will never escape—unless she can unlock the twisted secrets of her past.”

What I see: This ended up not being what I expected which was surprising to say the least. I did feel it didn’t bring anything new to the table amongst the other books that I have read and it was a bit long. I feel I would like enjoyed it more should the pacing been a bit faster. Other than that I liked how selfish Annaliese was, the reactions to the parents over Annaliese’s reappearance were my favourite bits to read. I also liked how the themes of the book were a bit more adult, and also that I didn’t entirely understand what was going on some of the time. There are some instances where the interpretation is left up to me and I liked that imaginary freedom.

It’s not a quick read, so be prepared to fight the pacing. If your looking for a book that as supernatural mystery to it, romance galore and an ending that will make you ponder life, this is a great choice! 

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March Reads

March ReadsA new month! Another stack of books to get through! Here’s what I’m hoping to accomplish reading this month:

The Neverending Story by Michael Ende

Black Spring by Alison Croggon

Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris

Change by Soraya Lane

Heidi by Johanna Spryi (ebook)

The S-Word by Chelsea Pitcher (ebook – ARC)

Most of these books are for review for this blog, but the others that aren’t, you’ll find my reviews on Goodreads. Apologies for the photo quality. I’m currently in the middle of sorting out a new room. Moving in London is never easy!

Happy reading!

Ashley xx

February Purchases

Feb purchases

A few weekends back, during a particularly wet and rainy Sunday in London, I took a long stroll over to the lovely Daunt Books in Chelsea. They have an amazing teenage section, as well as an well stocked children’s book area. For those looking for a place to browse in regards to art and travel, this is the Daunt Books location! Sadly the heating in this building has a lot to be desired (which isn’t unusual for such a lovely building). Regardless of this fact the gentleman that served me was charming, polite and full of smiles even on such a dreary day!

I made my purchases:

The Neverending Story by Michael Ende

I’ve been wanting to read The Neverending Story for ages! I grew up on the film adapation – I’ve named my car Falkor – and the second I learned this was based on a book I knew I had to give a read!

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

I actually bought this book for my friend’s boyfriend for Christmas last year. I loved the sound of it so much I was thrilled to have an excuse to get a copy for myself! It was in the teenage section but I’m not too sure if it’s really YA or not. Either way I’m excited to dive back into another one of Gaiman’s worlds.

I was not disappointed with my purchases from last month and I can’t wait to get started on these! Although I originally started my journey dead set on buying Scarlet by Marissa Meyer, I was so disappointed to see it wasn’t in stock! Oh well, there’s always next month.

Happy reading!

Ashley xx

Angelfall by Susan Ee

Angelfall Cover

Angelfall Info

Seventeen-year-old Penryn used to live in what was known as California. Six weeks ago she was concerned with makeup and teenage angst. Now it’s fight for survival. Food is scarce, safe shelter unheard of and above all else; watch the skies. The skies are the keepers of the danger that rip off limbs: Angels.

All Penryn tried to do was keep her seven-year-old paralysed sister Paige safe. Together with their schizophrenic mother they fled their home for a new hiding place. It wasn’t supposed to be easy, but they didn’t think a group of angels would fall to the ground, trying to execute an archangel.  One false sound and Paige is abducted. Gone. Taken away in the sky.

Penryn will do anything to find her sister, even if it means saving a dying angel. It’ll take going into the lion’s den and seeking help from the angelic demon himself to bring her family together.

This isn’t your traditional Angelic story. The tales of angels being godly and kind are transformed into the opposite. Instead they are evil beings that are unsure of why they are on Earth, this story only gets more interesting as each page is turned. This is a totally surprising read and as one progresses through the chapters the better it gets. Penryn reads a bit younger than seventeen, where the rest of book follows along general fiction.

For a Young Adult read it’s also startlingly grown up. Violence is present and shockingly adult. For being post-apocalyptic, Ee has hit the nail on the head with how humanity loses all aspects of right and wrong. Yet, there is also hope in this novel, on a scale that even Penryn is surprised to see. I really enjoyed this book, but I’d recommend this to older readers. I loved changing the Angel theme from good to evil, it’s not something I expected and there is lots of room for the story to grow. I patiently await the second book! 

Matched by Ally Condie

Matched Cover

Matched Info

Cassia Reyes has been waiting seventeen years to attend her Matching ceremony. A right of passage event when eligible teenagers receive their chosen matched partner. The officials have worked everything out. Each citizen is prepared to have the maximized proficiency for their life: Food is fuel, not taste, activities are for body performance, not enjoyment and life moves on with peace.

Cassia receives her match and her life is scheduled to be everything she had hoped. Until the day when there’s a flicker of doubt on her tablet screen. Suddenly someone else replaces, if only for a brief second, her match’s face. This doubtful seed gives birth to a love Cassia is not supposed to feel. A strict follower of the rules Cassia begins to see them for what they are. In a world full of control can there be room for freedom?

I’ve been so excited to get my hands on Matched. I loved the premise of the story and I can’t wait to continue Cassia’s story. I see it as a Young Adult version of Orwell’s 1984. I was struck by the sadness of the loss of physical writing. It’s such a simple little detail, but it’s a relevant one that goes unnoticed today. The passing of Cassia’s grandfather is also more emotional than most YA’s go.

The emotion that is engrossed in the pages gives the book a broader audience, meaning that younger readers will enjoy the love and romance, whilst older ones will see the deeper meanings. Condie has got more than just a romance on her hands and I thrilled that the final instalment in the series, Reached was published last month. If you’re not a fan of romance there is other interesting aspects to this book so please don’t be thrown. Matched is not a traditional romance Young Adult! 

2013 Reading Goals

A couple of friends of mine are making reading goals for this year. I’m so happy to announce that I have found a job and have also recently applied for my next visa to stay and work in the UK! Do to being a grown up, I now have the opportunity to make actual goals for myself like my friends. A year goes by so quick. When you live abroad it seems time moves even faster. I have goals for my life! I want to accomplish things this year! (I also really, really hope my visa gets approved) 

Anyways, here’s my reading goals for this year!

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1. I know it may sound silly to make buying a book a goal, but I haven’t had a full time job before. London has got some amazing bookstore and frighteningly, bookstores are coming under threat due to Amazon and other online retailers. (Seriously, if you want to buy used books, go to Half.com, a partner of eBay.) Plus I need an excuse to spend time in bookstores and support them!

2. Because sometimes it can be hard to find authors with the letters X and Z. 

3. I start many YA series and then forget to check back when the rest of the books are published, or don’t make the effort to complete them. If they’re good, I want to see how the rest of the books are too!

4. Everyone says it’s amazing and I need to suck it up and give it a go. 

5. Going to meet EL James, of 50 Shades of Grey, was an interesting experience. Many times the events are free and I love the idea of building a library of signed copies!

So those are my reading goals for this year. Do you have any? It’s never too late to start!