Blog Tour: Rogue by by A.J. Betts

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Rogue by by A.J. Betts thanks to AusYABloggers and Pan Macmillan Australia. The second and final novel in the Hive series, Rogue is an enjoyable read from by A.J. Betts that explores a unique Australian dystopian world.

Yesterday my review went live so be sure to check it out to see my thoughts on this novel. 

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There was no going back; there was no choice, anymore. I'd chosen out and this was it: hot-cold, dry-wet, bright-dark and lonely.

Hayley has gone rogue.

She's left everything she's ever known - her friends, her bees, her whole world - all because her curiosity was too big to fit within the walls of the underwater home she was forced to flee.

But what is this new world she's come to? Has Hayley finally found somewhere she can belong?

Or will she have to keep running?

Add on Goodreads or check out my review!

Purchase:

Angus & Robertson | Booktopia | Amazon

A.J. Betts is an author, speaker, teacher and cyclist. Her latest novel HIVE (Pan Macmillan Australia, July 2018) is the first of a young adult duology. Its sequel ROGUE will be released late June, 2019.

A.J.'s bestselling third novel, ZAC & MIA, won the 2012 Text Prize, the 2014 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award, and the 2014 Ethel Turner prize for young adults at the New South Wales Premier’s Literary Awards. ZAC & MIA is available in 14 countries and was adapted for American television in 2017/18. Her earlier novels are WAVELENGTH and SHUTTERSPEED. In 2018, A.J. completed a PhD at ECU on the topic of wonder in literature. A J. is originally from Queensland but has lived in Perth since 2004.

Visit A.J:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Near Fremantle? Think about checking out the launch of Rogue!

Check out the rest of the tour:

Monday 1 July

Barbara, @akablogger | Interview

Jacinta, Hungry Thesaurus | Giveaway

Lucy, Things Lucy Reads | Review

Stef, Novel Tea Corner | Review

Maree, @the_bibliosmaniac | Review

Tuesday 2 July

Bron, Bookish Bron | Interview

Danielle, @daniandthebooks | Review

Brooklynne, Lost in Literature | Review

Claire, The Secret World of a Book Blogger | Review

Helin, Bookish Universe | Review

Wednesday 3 July

Tanzeem, Inside A Dog | Interview

Rose, @seventyeight.sundays | Giveaway

Gillian, Gilly Reads | Review

Alanah, @prettynerdy3 | Review

Jessica, Jessie Hulk’s Books | Review

Thursday 4 July

Kaitlan, @elysian_words_ | Interview

Julie, Bookish Intoxication | Review

Kit, Kitster Cronk | Review

Michelle, Shelle Reads Books | Review

Rachel, The Rest is Still Unwritten | Review

Friday 5 July

Shannon, Shannon Jade Books | Interview

Aimee, Reading Sumption | Giveaway

Darlene, @daysoflostreading89 | Review

Clare, Goodreads | Review

Sarah, Sarah Says | Review

A great addition to the Australian dystopian genre, Rogue (and Hive) are enjoyable reads that are available online and in all good bookstores today. Don't miss out on your copies!

Book Shelf: Rogue (Hive #2) by A.J. Betts

There was no going back; there was no choice, anymore. I'd chosen out and this was it: hot-cold, dry-wet, bright-dark and lonely.

Hayley has gone rogue.

She's left everything she's ever known - her friends, her bees, her whole world - all because her curiosity was too big to fit within the walls of the underwater home she was forced to flee.

But what is this new world she's come to? Has Hayley finally found somewhere she can belong?

Or will she have to keep running?

More info on Goodreads......


Review: 

Rogue is the second novel in the Hive series and brings the duology to a close as A.J. Betts brings to life new elements of this unique Australian dystopian.

There’s no going back for Hayley now that she has left the safe confines of the only home she’s ever known. Outside is like nothing she could ever have imagined and since going rogue she finds herself discovering new wonders every day. Yet outside is far from perfect, and for every miracle Hayley finds comes a disappointment as well. Is this outside world any better than where she came from? Or did Hayley make a mistake in leaving? As she searches for a place to belong, Hayley begins to realise that home isn’t always where you thought it was….

As Rogue brings Hayley’s story to a close, I find myself satisfied by the way A.J. Betts has concluded this duology. Picking up where Hive left off, Rogue sees protagonist Hayley discovering a whole new world and as the reader, Rogue is also an eye opener as we finally begin to discover more about the place Hayley comes from and the world that exists outside it.

I personally think Bett’s wrote the history of her fictional world very well. It was exciting discovering the series was set in Australia (gotta love an Australian setting!) and I appreciated seeing how Betts wove today’s current events and pop-culture into this dystopian world set in the future. The backstory was believable as I could imagine how our world could become the place Hayley was now discovering.

Rogue sees Hayley grow in a lot of ways and I liked her strength as she fights to find her place in the world. The naiveté she possesses dissipates throughout the novel but she still retains her wonder and hope to find a home. Her voice is young but clear and she comes across as determined but sweet. Hayley makes new friends and even finds herself a new kind of family as she explores the outside world.

The Hive duology has been a unique and easy to ready dystopian series. A.J. Betts has created a world not too unlike our own and gives it a twist with the vault. I think the beauty of this is that neither world is perfect; both where Hayley originally comes from and the world she discovers once outside. Hayley is hoping to find a place to call home, but throughout Rogue it becomes clear that perhaps the place she came from may have been a kinder place to live. I quite liked the idea that not everything is greener on the other side.

Featuring a satisfying and hopeful ending, Rogue brings to a close a fun and solid duology that will appeal to those who love dystopian but are perhaps looking for something a little bit different.

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by publisher and AusYABloggers as part of tour (Thank you guys!)
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Format: Paperback
Australian RRP: $16.99
Release Date: June 25th 2019
Buy: Angus & Robertson | Booktopia | Amazon
Final Thoughts: A solid Australian novel, Rogue (and first novel Hive) are worth a read!

Book Shelf: Hive (Hive #1) by A.J. Betts

All I can tell you is what I remember, in the words that I have.

Hayley tends to her bees and follows the rules in the only world she has ever known.

Until she witnesses the impossible: a drip from the ceiling.

A drip? It doesn't make sense.

Yet she hears it, catches it. Tastes it.

Curiosity is a hook.

What starts as a drip leads to a lie, a death, a boy, a beast, and too many awful questions.

More info on Goodreads..... 


Review:  

Hive by A.J. Betts is a unique and original YA dystopian novel that introduces readers to an intriguing and compelling world in the vein of The Handmaidens Tale and Breathe by Sara Crossan.

Living in a world that consists of 6 hexagonal houses connected by corridors, Hayley’s job is to tend to the bees. A good girl, Hayley has always followed the rules in the only home she has ever known until she discovers the impossible; a drip of water coming from the ceiling in one of the rooms. Hayley knows this can’t be—there is nothing outside so where does this water come from? As her curiosity blossoms, Hayley finds herself seeking answers and when a mysterious encounter with a boy leads to only more questions, Hayley soon begins to realise there’s so much she doesn’t know.

A.J. Bett’s novel Hive begins with fifteen year old protagonist Hayley sharing a little bit about her world. Through Hayley’s simple and innocent descriptions we quickly realise that Hayley’s world is not like ours. Set in an unknown time and place, the world Hayley exists in is simple; made up of the Council with its Judge at the head, nurseries where babies are kept and looked after and the rest of the population---Aunts and Uncles and Mothers and Sisters who are all assigned a role and purpose within the community.

A gardener who looks after bees, Hayley’s voice is young and naive. She strives to do good and having known no different, mostly accepts her position in life. Unbeknown to her, the community she exists in is filled with secrecy and deception, mystery and the unknown and while almost everyone accepts what they are told and don’t question anything, there are secrets kept from the overall population that Hayley’s inquisitive nature stumbles upon.

This aspect of Hive really intrigued me. Bett’s depicts her dystopian world vividly and highlights the originality of her story. Part dystopian, part religious sect, the characters in Hive don’t have the same understanding of the world as readers will and it makes you wonder why they are so isolated and unknowing. How did they get to be this way? Why are they so ignorant to the ways of the world? They clearly know no different but manage to function and survive as an operating society.

A.J. Betts brings Hive to a close and ends this chapter of Hayley’s story very well. Concluding this stage of the duology, Hive will leaves readers ready to see what happens and what Hayley will now discover on the “outside”.

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by publisher (Thank you guys!)
Publisher: Pan Australia
Format: Paperback
Australian RRP: $16.99
Release Date: June 26th 2018
Buy: Angus & Robertson | Booktopia | Amazon
Final Thoughts: A solid read, I'm keen to see what will happen next.

Book Shelf: Lady Smoke (Ash Princess Trilogy #2) by Laura Sebastian

The Kaiser murdered Theodosia's mother, the Fire Queen, when Theo was only six. He took Theo's country and kept her prisoner, crowning her Ash Princess--a pet to toy with and humiliate for ten long years. That era has ended. The Kaiser thought his prisoner weak and defenseless. He didn't realize that a sharp mind is the deadliest weapon.

Theo no longer wears a crown of ashes. She has taken back her rightful title, and a hostage--Prinz Soren. But her people remain enslaved under the Kaiser's rule, and now she is thousands of miles away from them and her throne.

To get them back, she will need an army. Only, securing an army means she must trust her aunt, the dreaded pirate Dragonsbane. And according to Dragonsbane, an army can only be produced if Theo takes a husband. Something an Astrean Queen has never done.

Theo knows that freedom comes at a price, but she is determined to find a way to save her country without losing herself.

More on Goodreads.....


Review:

Lady Smoke is Laura Sebastian’s second novel and the follow up to her YA fantasy debut, Ash Princess, whisking readers once more into a world of danger where one young woman will do anything to save her people, even if it means risking her heart and life in the process.

As the rightful Queen of the land of Astrea, Theodosia Houzzara sparked a flame of change when she escaped the clutches of the cruel Kaiser and ended her decade long imprisonment as his glorified pet and symbol of humiliation. As the Kaiser continues to hold her people enslaved, Theo and her closes companions travel across the seas, with the Kalovaxian prince Soren as hostage in order to form an alliance and obtain an army capable of helping take back her kingdom. Yet gaining her freedom does not mean she is safe, and with a bounty hanging over her head, Theo will need to form a political alliance as soon as possible, even if it means offering her hand in marriage to suitors who want nothing more than a piece of the fabled ash princess and the magic her land holds….

After finding myself drawn into the lush and vivid fantasy world Laura Sebastian wove with her debut novel, I was excited to return to it with its sequel, Lady Smoke. Seeming to implement elements of various fantasy series, the Ash Princess Trilogy may not seem overly unique or different, but is still highly entertaining and enjoyable. Sebastian weaves different elements of danger, romance, magic, action and mystery into the story which follows a strong and personable main character.

Lady Smoke continues to unfold through the eyes of heroine Theo, a young woman who is tasked with finding a way to liberate her people from the enslavement they have suffered since the Kalovaxian’s invaded and conquered the land of Astrea. Theo is quite a likable protagonist. She’s intelligent but natural and willing to sacrifice if it means saving her people. Having seen her mother murdered at the hands of the Kaiser, Theo has been an unwilling captive who has recently tasted freedom for the first time. In a lot of ways Lady Smoke marks the start of Theo finally beginning to discover who she is—both as a person with her own hopes and desires and a Queen who must put her people first.

Theo is supported by a strong cast of characters. As the Queen of Astrea, Theo has a small group of close confidants she trusts including Blaise, Artimesia and Heron who readers will recall from the first novel as well as love interest Soren and friend Erik. Laura Sebastian introduces a few new faces to the series including elusive pirate Dragonsbane whose connection to Theo runs blood deep but whose motivations remain a mystery. Personally I think all of Theo’s friends are solid characters, especially Art who is a strong and capable female with hidden vulnrabilties.

As the Kalovaxian Prince who appears to have stolen Theo’s heart despite her complicated feelings for childhood friend Blaise, Soren is the picture of a steadfast friend and love interest to our beloved heroine. After betraying his father, Soren has become a close advisor and source of comfort to Theo and its impossible not to tell they are falling for one other. Though he should be “the enemy” Soren is proving himself day by day and continues to come to terms with all the brutality his father was responsible for.

Though Lady Smoke focuses more on Theo’s desperation to secure an ally through a political marriage, Laura Sebastian does manage to pack the story with plenty of developments. It was intriguing to see some more aspects of the world Theo and her comrades exist in including neighbouring kingdoms and their leaders.

The Truthwitch meets The Winner's Curse, Lady Smoke builds to a climactic ending which will turn the tides of the series. Theo has an even bigger fight on her hands as an old acquaintance rises to power with deadly results. I for one can’t wait to see what Laura Sebastian plans for the third and final instalment in the trilogy, Ember Queen and will be looking to read it as soon as it releases.

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by publisher (Thank you guys!)
Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Format: Paperback
Australian RRP: $16.99
Release Date: February 12th 2019
Buy: Angus & Robertson | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: Very entertaining; I'm ready for the next one!

Book Shelf: Two Dark Reigns (Three Dark Crowns #3) by Kendare Blake

One Crowned, Two Exiled, A Revolution Rising.

The battle has been fought, blood has been spilt and a queen has been crowned, but not all are happy with the outcome.

Katharine, the poisoner queen, has been crowned and is trying to ignore the whispers that call her illegitimate, undead, cursed.

Mirabella and Arsinoe have escaped the island of Fennbirn, but how long before the island calls them back?

Jules is returning to Fennbirn and has become the unlikely figurehead of a revolution threatening to topple Katharine's already unsteady rule.

But what good is a revolution if something is wrong with the island itself?

Kendare Blake's Two Dark Reigns is the heart-stopping third book in the bestselling Three Dark Crowns series. Discover more about Fennbirn and the three queens in the thrilling start to the quartet, Three Dark Crowns, and its sequel One Dark Throne.

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

Two Dark Reigns is the thrilling and explosive third novel in the Three Dark Crowns series by Kendare Blake and once more draws readers into a treacherous world of danger, magic and a land on the brink of war as a rebellion rises and a Queen struggles to retain her crown.

Queen Katherine has been crowned. The battle is over with blood spilled and Arsinoe and Mirabella escaping the island of Fennbirn. Even though Katherine now sits on the throne whispers still follow her and as the mist rises up and begins to take the lives of her people, the rumored undead queen will have to justify her reign. Far away on the mainland Mirabella and Arsinoe try to let their past go but as a series of dreams seem to call Arsinow back to the island, she, Mira and Billy must decide if they will return. As a rebellion rises and the mist rebels, all three sisters face another fight, once again for their very lives....

I have to say that that Kendare Blake truly does electrify with Two Dark Reigns, the third instalment in the Three Dark Crowns series, bringing once more to life her deadly and darkly dangerous would of Fennbirn. This series is so addictive; drawing you into a world of danger and featuring harrowing voices and characters who are complex and layered.

After the last novel, Two Dark Reigns picks up with Katherine now the Crowned Queen and her sisters living in the mainland having fled the island with Billy in order to survive. Yet the island isn’t going to let Arsinoe and Mirabella stay away with forces already conspiring to send them back as Kendare Blake brings to life new aspects of the series.

Two Dark Reign was as exciting as its predecessors but also has somewhat of a fresh feel with this the first novel where the Ascension is not the focal point; the sisters are no longer solely focused on killing each other and are instead facing other challenges. I really enjoying this aspect of the novel. Arsinoe and Mira are developing (or reconnecting I should say) such a sweet relationship as sisters and it’s nice seeing them care for each other while Katherine is coming into her role as Queen. She’s in no way perfect but there is still her own brand of kindness and innocence to her even if she has been twisted by the dead queens.

As Jules role in the storyline continues to develop, all the characters I’ve come to love play an important role within the novel. Arsinoe and Billy's romance is a highlight for me, but I do enjoy all the characters, even the "villains" and poisoners including Katherine and Pietyr. Blake explains and explores some interesting history of Fennbirn in this installment and manages to offer up some explanation to queries I’ve had even as she posed more questions.

Two Dark Reigns races to a climactic and heart-racing conclusion that leaves me dying to see what Kendare Blake has in store next. I can’t wait until I can get my hands on the next novel to see what happens to these diverse and dynamic individuals and the world they live in.

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by publisher (Thank you guys!)
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Format: Paperback
Australian RRP: $17.99
Release Date: September 25th 2018
Purchase: Bookworld | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: Another great book with a thrilling ending; I can't wait for the next one to be released!

Givewaway: Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian

Having recently released on April 24th 2018, Laura Sebastian 's debut novel Ash Princess is a wonderfully written novel of romance, deception and desperate rebellion and is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Amy Tintera and Marie Rutkovski.

AND thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia I have a paperback copy of Ash Princess to give away to one lucky Australian readers to help celebrate its release!

Theodosia was six when her country was invaded and her mother, the Fire Queen, was murdered before her eyes. On that day, the Kaiser took Theodosia's family, her land, and her name. Theo was crowned Ash Princess--a title of shame to bear in her new life as a prisoner.

For ten years Theo has been a captive in her own palace. She's endured the relentless abuse and ridicule of the Kaiser and his court. She is powerless, surviving in her new world only by burying the girl she was deep inside.

Then, one night, the Kaiser forces her to do the unthinkable. With blood on her hands and all hope of reclaiming her throne lost, she realizes that surviving is no longer enough. But she does have a weapon: her mind is sharper than any sword. And power isn't always won on the battlefield.

For ten years, the Ash Princess has seen her land pillaged and her people enslaved. That all ends here.

Add on Goodreads or check out my review!

Purchase:

Bookworld | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
 

Ash Princess is definitely perfect for those such of myself who can't get enough YA fantasy and will be a series to look out for!

Book Shelf: Ash Princess (Ash Princess Trilogy #1) by Laura Sebastian

Theodosia was six when her country was invaded and her mother, the Fire Queen, was murdered before her eyes. On that day, the Kaiser took Theodosia's family, her land, and her name. Theo was crowned Ash Princess--a title of shame to bear in her new life as a prisoner.

For ten years Theo has been a captive in her own palace. She's endured the relentless abuse and ridicule of the Kaiser and his court. She is powerless, surviving in her new world only by burying the girl she was deep inside.

Then, one night, the Kaiser forces her to do the unthinkable. With blood on her hands and all hope of reclaiming her throne lost, she realizes that surviving is no longer enough. But she does have a weapon: her mind is sharper than any sword. And power isn't always won on the battlefield.

For ten years, the Ash Princess has seen her land pillaged and her people enslaved. That all ends here.

More info on Goodreads....


Review:  

Lauren Sebastian’s debut novel Ash Princess is Ruined by Amy Tintera meets The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkovski and is an intriguing story of romance, deception and desperate rebellion.

Theodosia was six years old when her country was invaded and her mother, the ruling Queen, murdered before her eyes. That day saw Theo loose more than just her mother; she lost her kingdom, her name and her freedom. Ten years have passed with Theo a captive of the Kaiser within the palace that was once her beloved home. Powerless, Theo has had no choice but to bury the girl she was and endure the endless abuse and ridicule at the hands of the Kalovaxian leader. Crowned the Ash Princess, Theo has survived a lot but when the Kaiser forces her to do the unthinkable, the blood left on her hands threatens to break her. As Theo struggles to reconcile her choices, from the ashes begins a spark that will see her take up a rebellion against those that have enslaved her people and made them suffer. Theodosia will learn that war isn’t always won on a battlefield. She’s going to reclaim her throne and save her people; even if it means taking drastic choices and breaking her own heart in the process….

Ash Princess is a dark and passionate story that weaves political intrigue, acts of rebellion and moments of violence together beautifully with lyrical writing and a lot of promise. In the vein of many successful YA fantasy novels, Ash Princess invites readers into a conquered land and into the heart of a princess determined to save her people. The writing drew me into the story and the setting was dangerous and violent enough to keep me on my toes.

The overall concept may be one we have seen before but Lauren Sebastian does fight to give her story an edge with different elements brought to the surface to make it unique. At this point in time, I feel that we may see a lot more in future novels that will make Ash Princess stand out above the rest. It’s just an inkling I have based on some of the hints Sebastian has expressed and am hoping this is the case.

Personally I’m of a mixed mind where our protagonist Theodosia is concerned. There were times when I really liked her and times when I struggled to connect. I feel like she has promise (much of the story does) but I want to see more before I’m comfortable passing judgement. I was disappointed to see my least favourite trope appear—the dreaded love triangle—and I wasn’t completely smitten with either love interest to be honest. So…..I’m hoping to see more of Theo that will win me over.

Darkly riveting, if somewhat slow in the beginning, Ash Princess begins Lauren Sebastian’s debut series well. There’s a lot to be enjoyed within its pages and I’m looking forward to reading the sequel in the future to see how Sebastian expands on her world. The ending was heading in the direction of a cliffhanger and I for one am looking forward to seeing what will happen next.

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by publisher (Thank you guys!)
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Format: Paperback
Australian RRP: $16.99
Release Date: April 24th 2018
Purchase: Bookworld | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: Ash Princess was beautifully written and I think the series shows a lot of promise; I'll definitely read the sequel when it comes out.

Book Shelf: Tarnished City (Dark Gifts #2) by Vic James

"A thrilling Orwellian vision of Britain, with a rebellious Hunger Games heart, Tarnished City is the second title in Vic James's electrifying Dark Gifts Trilogy, following Gilded Cage.

A corrupted city
A dark dream of power

Luke is a prisoner, condemned for a murder he didn’t commit. Abi is a fugitive, desperate to free him before magic breaks his mind. But as the Jardines tighten their grip on a turbulent Britain, brother and sister face a fight greater than their own.

New alliances and old feuds will remake the nation, leaving Abi and Luke questioning everything – and everyone – they know. And as Silyen Jardine hungers for the forgotten Skill of the legendary Wonder King, the country’s darkest hour approaches. Freedom and knowledge both come at a cost. So who will pay the price?"

More info on Goodreads.....


Review: 

Tarnished City is the second novel in the Dark Gifts series by Vic James and is another darkly thrilling tale featuring a world of inequity, injustice and powerful individuals that is full of political intrigue, betrayal and a rebellion that burns stronger with the turn of every page.

In a corrupt and alternate Britain, those in possession of special abilities known as Skill are held in high esteem and lord over their unSkillfull counterparts. As commoners struggle in their day to day lives and are expected to participate in ten years’ worth of slave days, those with Skill live in wealth and opulence, high above those they deem less. Ever since beginning their slave days, things have gone from bad to worse for siblings Abi and Luke. Luke has been condemned and imprisoned in an inescapable castle for his role in an Equal controlled assassination and Abi is a fugitive as she attempts to prove her brother is nothing but a pawn in the plans of others. Torn between who they can trust and who isn’t as they appear, Abi and Luke find themselves caught up in a dangerous rebellion and the desires of entitled lords who will do anything to secure their positions of power. Even if it means killing in order to do so…..

After getting off to a slow start with Gilded Cage, I have come to enjoy the turn of the 20th century aristocratic vibe that runs through this series and that Vic James explores with each instalment. Blending danger and powerful abilities with historic monuments, estates and mannerisms give the series a noble aura and James weaves brutal moments and shocking atrocities into the storyline to keep things forward moving and her readers on their toes.

Told in the third person, Tarnished City follows a number of characters who as a collective bring a lot to the story. There’s such a diverse collection of personalities within the series that it offers a lot of different perspectives and points of views that you can follow. Some are fairly obvious such as Abi’s and Luke’s, but characters such as Silyen Jardine really pique my interest as I try to understand the workings of their minds and what their reasoning’s for many of their actions are. I know Silyen’s working an angle, but I just don’t know what yet; is he friend or foe? It’s really not clear, and this and other characters motivations make for some interesting reading and story development.

Admittedly some characters I like more than others including Coira whose history and heritage I’m keen to learn more about and Garver who is strangely one of my favourite characters and who I’m hoping to see big things from after the ending of book two. I’m hoping this means some changes and developments are in store for him.

Author Vic James keeps a lot close to her chest and includes some unexpected betrayals and revelations in Tarnished City. As far as I’m concerned, Tarnished City was better than the first novel in my eyes and am hopeful that streak will continue.

With the thrilling final chapters of Tarnished City shocking and more than one character losing their life throughout the course of Tarnished City, I can’t wait to see what happens next in the third instalment and am sure James will once more keep me on my toes!

Rating:  
Source: Sent for review by publisher (Thank you guys!)
Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Format: Paperback
Australian RRP: $12.99
Release Date: September 7th 2017
Purchase: Bookworld | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: I enjoyed Tarnished City much more than I actually did the first book in this series. I feel the series is getting better and am looking forward to the release of the next novel to see what happens next!

 

Book Shelf: Gilded Cage (Dark Gifts #1) by Vic James

Not all are free. Not all are equal. Not all will be saved.

Our world belongs to the Equals — aristocrats with magical gifts — and all commoners must serve them for ten years. But behind the gates of England's grandest estate lies a power that could break the world.

A girl thirsts for love and knowledge.

Abi is a servant to England's most powerful family, but her spirit is free. So when she falls for one of the noble-born sons, Abi faces a terrible choice. Uncovering the family's secrets might win her liberty, but will her heart pay the price?

A boy dreams of revolution.

Abi's brother, Luke, is enslaved in a brutal factory town. Far from his family and cruelly oppressed, he makes friends whose ideals could cost him everything. Now Luke has discovered there may be a power even greater than magic: revolution.

And an aristocrat will remake the world with his dark gifts.

He is a shadow in the glittering world of the Equals, with mysterious powers no one else understands. But will he liberate—or destroy?

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

Gilded Cage is Vic James debut novel and is a unique and enigmatic tale, introducing readers to a darkly magical world of aristocrats and those that serve them.

In an alternate Great Britain, not everyone is born free. While those lucky enough to be born with powerfully abilities known as Skill live high and mighty lives, those born without Skill must pay for the sins of their ancestors by participating in a mandatory ten years of slavery in service to the Skillful. The Hadley family have just agreed to serve their ten years at the same time, believing they’ll be placed together, but when their teenage son Luke is sent to a different slavetown than the Kyneston Estate the rest of the family are sent to, the family are left separated. One of the most influential families in existence, the Jardine’s are known for their cruelty and indifference towards their slaves. With the Jardine sons known for their different levels of abilities and influence it would be a dangerous thing for the Hadley’s to get more involved with the family than just slave-to-master relationship they’re supposed to have. Rebellion and romance is in the air, yet with intentions not to be trusted and power the ultimate prize, will Hadley siblings Luke and his sister Abi pay the ultimate price in this dangerous world? 

Gilded Cage turned out to be a bit of a mixed bucket for me. To begin with the premise sounded absolutely spectacular but unfortunately I found the execution to be somewhat lacking. While I don’t necessary believe Gilded Cage was a badly written or bad story, it just didn’t appeal to me as I had hoped it would heading into the story; especially considering how anticipated a novel it was of 2017. Gilded Cage seemed to have it all; intricate world, mystery, magic and even a hint of forbidden romance, but it just seemed to be missing that special thing to take it to the next level. That being said, there was something about the book that kept me reading, and the final few chapters certainly had me entranced! 

Branded as Downtown Abbey-esque with magical aspects (I’m not a fan of Downtown Abbey by the way) Gilded Cage introduces readers to a world where Skilled aristocrats hold themselves in high regard compared to the rest of the community and those without abilities are seen as less than human. The world Vic James has created does hold a lot of promise coming across as a mix of turn of the century/early 1900’s attitudes and values and an almost dystopian like society. 

Unfolding through various POV’s including siblings Luke and Abi, Gilded Cage spends a lot of time bouncing back and forth between Luke’s life at Millmoor and Abi’s experiences at Kyneston. Throwing in a few chapters here and there from other individuals, Skilled heirs and “bad guys” Gilded Cage offers a well rounded experience. One of my issues with the story though is that I failed to truly connect with the characters at times. I wanted that little extra something to really suck me in, and I wanted to care about the characters and their lives and it wasn’t until towards the end of the novel I began to feel that way. 

For me personally, the best part of the story came at the end when quite a few developments occurred and there were revelations that changed or shaped the story immensely. These final few chapters had me eagerly turning pages and keen for more. Ending superbly and on a cliffhanger, I do find myself interested to see what happens with Vic James’s world next. I think the series has the potential to grow and will definitely tune in next instalment to see where James takes the story!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by publisher (Thank you guys!)
Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Format: Paperback ARC
Australian RRP: $16.99
Release Date: February 1st 2017
Purchase: Bookworld | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: Gilded Cage was a slow going read, but picked up towards the end. I will definitely look out for the sequel to see what happens next.

Book Shelf: A Girl Called Owl by Amy Wilson

It's bad enough having a mum dippy enough to name you Owl, but when you've got a dad you've never met, a best friend who needs you more than ever, and a new boy at school giving you weird looks, there's not a lot of room for much else.

So when Owl starts seeing strange frost patterns on her skin, she's tempted to just burrow down under the duvet and forget all about it. Could her strange new powers be linked to her mysterious father?And what will happen when she enters the magical world of winter for the first time?

A glittering story of frost and friendship, with writing full of magic and heart, A Girl Called Owl is a stunning debut about family, responsibility and the beauty of the natural world.

More info on Goodreads....


Review:

A Girl Called Owl is a unique debut novel from Amy Wilson that details a luscious, icy tale featuring some of mythology’s most interesting characters. 

Thirteen year old Owl has grown up with her quirky mother’s tales of magical lands and powerful beings. Owl knows most of her mother’s stories off by heart but never expects that the truth about her father could be as incredible as it really is. Yet when icy tendrils begin to bloom across Owl’s hands and she suddenly beings to notice strange creatures watching her every move, Owl will have to delve into worlds straight out of fairy tales if she wants to learn the truth about her new abilities and who she really is….. 

A Girl Called Owl is a hard book for me to review. I think Amy Wilson had a genius thought when she decided to write a novel featuring Jack Frost and a lot of the other forces of nature we hear about upon occasion, but I don’t think the execution was as good as it could have been. A Girl Called Owl was admittedly well written, but I failed to connect emotionally with the characters and felt the novel was a slow one to read. It wasn’t bad, it just was missing something and because of this I struggled.

Perhaps it’s an age thing, but to me Owl read too young and her attitude at times grated, making it difficult for me to really care about her and what was going on in her life. I loved seeing characters such as Jack Frost, the North Wind, Mother Nature, the Lady of the Lake, the Earl of October, etc come to life, but unfortunately these magical individuals weren’t able to save the story in my eyes. 

Promising, but ultimately falling flat for me, A Girl Called Owl featured a unique premise that failed to win me over but may suit the younger demographic who enjoy their tales whimsical and filled with magic. 

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by publisher (Thank you guys!)
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Format: Paperback ARC
Australian RRP: $14.99
Release Date: January 26th 2017
Purchase: Bookworld | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: I great premise that failed to really capture me; I'd recommend it you a younger audience however.

Book Shelf: Windwitch (The Witchlands #2) by Susan Dennard

Sometimes our enemies are also our only allies…

After an explosion destroys his ship, the world believes Prince Merik, Windwitch, is dead. Scarred yet alive, Merik is determined to prove his sister’s treachery. Upon reaching the royal capital, crowded with refugees, he haunts the streets, fighting for the weak—which leads to whispers of a disfigured demigod, the Fury, who brings justice to the oppressed.

When the Bloodwitch Aeduan discovers a bounty on Iseult, he makes sure to be the first to find her—yet in a surprise twist, Iseult offers him a deal. She will return money stolen from him, if he locates Safi. Now they must work together to cross the Witchlands, while constantly wondering, who will betray whom first?

After a surprise attack and shipwreck, Safi and the Empress of Marstok barely escape with their lives. Alone in a land of pirates, every moment balances on a knife’s edge—especially when the pirates’ next move could unleash war upon the Witchlands.

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

Windwitch is the second novel in The Witchlands series by Susan Dennard and is a forward moving and fast paced follow up to its predecessor that draws readers once more into an exhilarating and dangerous world of magic and danger!

After the events of the first book, Safi and Iseult find themselves separated by land and sea with Safi held prisoner by the Marstok Empress and Iseult racing against time to find her Threadsister all the while finding herself haunted in dreams by the mysterious Puppeteer. Facing with limited options, Iseult finds herself forming an uneasy alliance with the Bloodwitch Aeduan; Aeduan will track Safi in exchange for the money Iseult has stolen from him but as Iseult and Aeduan work together to cross the Witchlands, there are dangers looming across the Witchlands no one expected…..Prince Merik is a dead man, or at least that’s what everyone believes. When an explosion left him burned, scared and gravely injured, Merik found himself embracing the anonymity being “dead” allows him to have. Wanting to prove his sisters treachery, Merik sets out with a close companion to prove her deceit, but when it becomes clear something more sister is going on in Nubreva will Merik be able to find the power to fight for his people, or will he be lost to his own misery and anger?

After the thrilling ending of Truthwitch, I jumped straight into Windwitch to once more become lost in the world Susan Dennard has created. I have to admit I was a bit perplexed by the beginning of Windwitch; mainly due to the changes in Merik and the shocking events that occurred to him in the week between when the last book concluded and when Windwitch began. It was almost like reading about a totally different character at times—so very different from the Merik I had met in Truthwitch, although if I’m being honest, I can see the reasoning behind it.

As Windwitch allows readers to discover more of Merik as the title character, and Susan Dennard to develop the storyline, Windwitch also allows readers to get to know some of the other characters a great deal more too including Aeduan and Merik’s powerful sister Viva, who is a surprise in many ways.

A rich and poignant fantasy story, I’m very much enjoying how this series is developing. I’m a romantic at heart, so I’m hopeful for a happy ending for Merik and Safi down the track and look forward to seeing something powerful develop between Iseult and Aeduan; the first hints of a budding romance between them are already there. But I’m also very intrigued by the other aspects of the story; the mysterious and powerful Puppeteer, this dangerous shadow man Merik has been dealing with, Owl, the Hell-Bards, Caden and even the empress of Marstok, Vaness….lots of different aspects coming together to make me want more.

Though Windwitch seemed very different to Truthwitch, it opens a lot of possibilities to the series and I’m beyond excited for the third book to be released, Bloodwitch. I really do love Aeduan, so I can’t wait to see him in a starring role and continuing to explore this world that Susan Dennard has so wonderfully crafted.

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by publisher (Thank you Kirsty!)
Publisher: Tor Uk via Pan Macmillan Australia
Format: Paperback
Australian RRP: $16.99
Release Date: January 10th 2017
Purchase: Bookworld | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: I enjoyed this second installment and really can't wait for the third book, especially if it's going to feature Aeduan!

 

Book Shelf: Freeks by Amanda Hocking

Welcome to Gideon Davorin’s Traveling Sideshow, where necromancy, magical visions, and pyrokinesis are more than just part of the act…

Mara has always longed for a normal life in a normal town where no one has the ability to levitate or predict the future. Instead, she roams from place to place, cleaning the tiger cage while her friends perform supernatural feats every night.

When the struggling sideshow is miraculously offered the money they need if they set up camp in Caudry, Louisiana, Mara meets local-boy Gabe…and a normal life has never been more appealing.

But before long, performers begin disappearing and bodes are found mauled by an invisible beast. Mara realizes that there’s a sinister presence lurking in the town with its sights set on getting rid of the sideshow freeks. In order to unravel the truth before the attacker kills everyone Mara holds dear, she has seven days to take control of a power she didn’t know she was capable of—one that could change her future forever.

Bestselling author Amanda Hocking draws readers inside the dark and mysterious world of Freeks.

More info on Goodreads......


Review:

Freeks is the latest release by Best Selling author Amanda Hocking and is a beguiling and magical standalone tale and will easily entertain and draw you in to a magical world of traveling carnivals and powerful abilities.

For eighteen year old Mara, Gideon Davorin’s Travelling Sideshow is home. The daughter of a necromancer, Mara and her mother have been with the carnival for years and travel alongside other supernaturally endowed individuals to different towns to captivate audiences with their unique and magical abilities. Unfortunately audiences don’t seem to be as plentiful as they’ve always been and with Gideon Davorin’s Traveling Sideshow in trouble financially, the carnival members are thrilled when they’re invited to the town of Chaudry, Louisiana in what looks like a big payday. Amongst the magic shows and performances, Mara quickly finds herself drawn to Gabe, a local boy who seems to be keeping a secret of his own, but when it becomes clear that something dark and dangerous is stalking the carnival, will Mara be able to protect those she loves? Or will they find themselves victim to some unknown evil?

In the past, my experiences with Amanda Hockings books have always been positive and Freeks is definitely no exception to this rule. A well told standalone tale, Freeks draws you into a captivating world of magic and circus folk. It was really interesting to get a glimpse into the day to day life of a traveling side show and witness how the dynamic between them all works. I thought it was sweet how they all appeared to be one big family and like that Amanda Hocking wrote them so close.

Set in 1987, Freeks includes some cute throwbacks to the late eighties; VHS, cassette tapes and typical 80’s style of dress that will interest readers. I’m not sure I completely understand Hocking’s reasoning as to why Freeks was set in this decade—perhaps because traveling circus’s and sideshows aren’t as common in today’s day and age--but I don’t think it effected the story too much. Just made for something different. Does make me wonder what happened to all the characters up until now though….

With Mara being an easy heroine to follow and all the members of Gideon Davorin’s Travelling Sideshow so interesting, my only issue with this book is the ending felt a tad rushed and abrupt to me. And having finished the story, I find myself really wanting more. Sometimes it’s refreshing to read a standalone tale, but one novel doesn’t seem like enough time to get to know the characters—I’m left with a lot of questions about all the characters, not just Mara. Will Hutch ever tell Roxie he likes her? And is the feeling mutual like Mara suspects? What will happen to the performers after leaving Chaudry? Where will they go next? They’re were all just such interesting individuals. I’d have loved the chance to explore them all some more.

Overall though, Freeks was an engaging read. Entertaining and intriguing, I found myself eagerly turning the pages until the end and enjoying myself immensely.

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by publisher (Thank you Alana!)
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Format: Paperback ARC
Australian RRP: $16.99
Release Date: January 31st 2017
Purchase: Bookworld | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: A solid Amanda Hocking tale well worth a read, although I'd love a companion novel down the track ;)