Tag Archive | 5 Stars

Book Review: Croak by Gina Damico

Lex (short for Lexington) Bartleby is one troubled teenage girl. Her twin sister Cordy (short for Concord) is sweet as sugar and works hard at her part time job. When Lex puts another fellow student in hospital, the girl’s parents ship her off to her forgotten Uncle Mort’s farm in upstate New York.

Stuck in the middle of nowhere, Lex attempts to prepare for one long summer of suck. Instead her scarred Uncle on a motorcycle picks her up, with no farms in sight. He’s also the Mayor of Croak, a town full of Grim Reapers. Lex is also a Grim Reaper; gifted with talents of guiding souls to the afterlife. Her summer makes a complete 180.

That is until uncharted deaths start happening around the US. Lex finds herself public enemy number one for reasons she doesn’t understand. As she begins to lose what little comfort fitting in a society of her own kind, she’ll have to make a choice of either joining this masked Killer or ending him or her, herself.

This book is seriously amazing. So worth the wait. (It hasn’t been published in the UK yet.) Finally a YA seriously where the focus isn’t on falling in love, with some real bite to it! Croak is fabulous at dealing with the moral obligations of life and death. Everyone who lives must also die and I love how Damico uses this sad life event to bring comfort to readers, as well as cover the natural order.

When that balance is disrupted all hell breaks loose in the book and you’ll turn every page wondering who’s around the corner! The language of the story is also fantastic. Riddled with new age teenage slang. You’ll be laughing and crying through this brilliant 300 page ride. Talk about using the post-apocalyptic theme in a modern way, Croak is absolutely worth reading. As long as you’re not uberally disturbed by death, I highly suggest checking out this beginning of the Croak series as soon as possible!

The finale book in this series will be published in September, and this review is kicking off to the release date. Next month I’ll include my review on the sequel, Scorch.

Book Review: Story’s End by Marissa Burt

Jul9

Please note: This is the second book in the Storybound series and does contain spoilers from the first book.

For my review of the first book Storybound, click here.

With the enemy returning at the hands of an unknowing Una Fairchild, the fate of Story is in peril.

Whispers of the true king of Story waft from character to character. Yet, can it be believed?

As the Red Enchantress blankets most of the Story with lies, can a proper ending be written?

With Una’s new knowledge of who she is exposed, can Story forgive her for what she has done?

What will become of Story? What ending is it destined to have?

Burt is truly a gifted middle grade writer. I absolutely adored Storybound, and I wasn’t disappointed with Story’s End. I do think the second book is bit more mature than the first, but it’s an exciting end for such a fantastical world.

All loose ends are tied up and I really enjoyed how Una is not a traditional character. To avoid spoilers, it’s understood when the book is read.

Story’s End will challenge middle grade readers and expose them to battles against good versus evil. What is happening to the characters isn’t immediately understood, making them perfect for parent assisted or reading groups.

For all the parents, there is a happy ending. For a two book series it’s beautifully written with care for it’s age range, and brings to life stories in a way that hasn’t been done in many a year. Even adults can find the fun and thrill. Well done Burt! I am so happy to recommend such amazing work!

Book Review: Storybound by Marissa Burt

Jun8

A lonely foster child, full of wonder about who and where she came from; Una Fairchild is shocked as she’s transported to the land of Story when browsing her school library.

Now she’s a part of a magical land she never imaged could exist. Story, a world filled with characters one grows up with. Talking animals, princes in training and a school where all the students learn to be either a Hero or a Villain.

Yet not all is well in the land of Story, and twelve-year-old Una is about to discover that she wasn’t brought there by accident. There are secrets waiting in the dark and an evil just bidding time to be restored to Story. With her new friend Peter, it’s going to be up to Una to set a prophecy in motion.

What a fantastic middle grade series! I absolutely loved it! Can you tell? The setting, the characters, the breath of fresh air that brings humour and fun to the fairytale world where there’s more than meets the eye! Not to mention the fact that there is plenty of challenges for all ranges of middle grade readers.

Plus the ending is so AMAZING! I don’t know how else to praise Burt for creating such an intriguing series. Not only are the characters easy to relate to, but the whole creation of Story is an awesome way to get kids to think outside of the book. This is length done right with loads of new characters, places and motives. As the knowledge within Story is challenged, the information is at a perfect rate to keep kids turning those pages!

I’m looking forward to delving back into Story with Burt’s sequel, Story’s End.

Book Review: Pivot Point by Kasie West

May28

Addison Coleman is an extraordinary teenager. Gifted with the power to see the future outcome when making a decision, she is just your average teenager. Growing up on a compound with others just like her, she has a best friend, crushes on boys and is faced with a difficult choice when her parents announce they are getting a divorce.

Addie must decide to either remain on the compound with mother or she can leave to the normal world with her father. If she remains with her mother, Addie will grab the attention of the hottest guy in school. On the outside Addie learns that not all ‘Norms’ are as ignorant as she’s taught to believe. The choice should be easy. Two different choices like a fork in the road. Which one will she choose?

But Addie’s power comes with a difficult price, for she must choose one of the paths. When each present results with tragic results, she’s got to decide whom she can live with forever, or without.

I really loved this book! Such a great premise and it’s exciting right from the first chapter! Totally TV worthy and the only thing I’m disappointed about is the fact that it’s becoming a book series. I really liked this book as a single, but it’s very impressive so I’m not shocked that more books are on the way.

Anyways, the format is written as every other chapter in the perspective of each path. It’s best not to be reading other books whilst reading this one. There is so much to each story and they’re beautifully interwoven as alternate realities. This book will keep you up reading until the final chapter to see which future Addie chooses. Not heavy on the romance it’s focus is more on being an ‘average’ teenager (somewhat) and I loved how relatable the story was.

If you’ve ever wondered ‘What if?’ in your life, this book will make you think about choices. Now which point will you take?

Book Review: Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

May4

*Please note this is only a two book series.

Cas has survived his battle with his father’s killer, but now suffers from taunting dreams of Anna trapped in Hell. As a ghost hunter he’s supposed to forget about the ghosts he encounters, not fall in love with them. Anna is everywhere, in more pain through each encounter. Cas refuses to forget about her and embarks on a journey to bring her back.

Yet there’s more to his father’s knife than Cas is aware of. When a mysterious picture arrives in the post, Cas knows he’s going to do whatever it takes to open the door to hell and rescue Anna from the torture she doesn’t deserve. Even if it means killing himself.

It took some time to process how I felt about this book. I was expecting it to be a part of trilogy and was epically sad that there are only two books in this series.

However, I really liked that there are only two books. It’s so different from everything else currently being published. With characters are so full of personality that it’s impossible not to fall in love with this series.

There is love on a (somewhat) real scale, scary scenes and adventure that waits across the pond. I praise Blake for creating such a fantastic series that can blend both a realistic teenage life along with a paranormal existence that hasn’t been conquered yet. I wish there was more but am glad there isn’t at the same time.

Be warned however, there is a lot of swearing and some scary scenes that are truly terrifying. I loved every single sentence! Give it a go if you dare!

Book Review: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Apr25

“The monster showed up at just after midnight. As they do.”

Thus begins the emotional story of 13-year-old Conor, who struggles to come to terms with his mother’s illness in England. This work of art is blended beautifully with the realistic story that no child should ever endure. Conor’s harsh reality includes everything a present day child can face. A father who remarries in America, a cold grandmother and bullies at school along with facing how terminal cancer affects his mother.

Written for a slighter younger audience this book transcends age limits. The monster, a creature comes to Conor in the form of a Yew tree is evil, scary and has a sense of humour. Telling Conor three tales, the monster will force Conor to see the truth that he’s been avoiding.

The late Siobhan Dowd, who unfortunately passed away before the story was finished but Ness has done an outstanding job, inspired this story. The result is a piece of work that anyone can relate to.

Crafted with amazing illustrations of shadow and shapes A Monster Calls is an important book to be on everyone’s bookshelf.