Mirrorworld #1 The Petrified Flesh

Presenting Mirrorworld #1 The Petrified Flesh by Cornelia Funke.


Here is the summary of the book:


Ever since Jacob Reckless was a child, he has been escaping to a hidden world through a portal in his father's abandoned study. Over the years, he has made a name for himself as a finder of enchanted items and buried secrets. He's also made many enemies and allies — most important, Fox, a beautiful shape-shifting vixen whom Jacob cares for more than he lets on.

But life in this other world is about to change. Tragedy strikes when Jacob's younger brother, Will, follows him through the portal. Brutally attacked, Will is infected with a curse that is quickly transforming him into a Goyl — a ruthless killing machine, with skin made of stone.

Jacob is prepared to fight to save his brother, but in a land built on trickery and lies, Jacob will need all the wit, courage, and reckless spirit he can summon to reverse the dark spell — before it's too late.

REVIEW ==

On a whim i requested to read The Petrified Flesh from Netgalley because really the author's Inkheart wowed me. Mirrorworld for all instants and purposes is a well written and well thought out book. But I am ashamed to admit that I just lost interest in it halfway. Being the only issue with the book ..... and it was a major issue was that, they don't take time to focus on the character of Jacob Reckless and this world behind the mirror that we are just supposed to believe is there. Overall there was this info-dump in every page that just served me loosing interest.

Of course there were things to appreciate about this tome as well. The world behind the mirror..... Is in anyway not new to us Fantasy-fanatics(Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell definitely did a better concept of it). But this sprawling world is a definitely a thing of marvel. But Funke adds some more in this, this world is vaguely telling of the stories of Brother's Grimm. This 'Mirrorworld' is a land where every Fairytale slash Fantasy is a true event. And Jacob and Will Reckless can be compared to the Grimm brothers but its a just a loose interpretation on my behalf and may or may not be true.

But all these mixed signals aside. The story manages to find its legs halfway into the book. And while it may feel more than late enough for a reader to be put off of this book. I stuck to it like glue till the end because really things had finally started to turn interesting and I really wanted to know if Jacob is able to cure his brother of the curse or not.

In all fairness. I definitely wasn't invested enough in the characters or their plight to keep behind the series and follow. But i will of course not stop anyone looking to read this series. Maybe you will find something I didn't in this book.

"A proven formula of fantasy but somehow loosing to hit its mark"

Genre :     Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, 

Publisher: Breathing Books

Release Date: 11th October, 2016

My Copy: publisher & netgalley

Rate:             3/5 (Liked It)

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository 

Spindle Fire #1 Spindle Fire

Presenting Spindle Fire #1 Spindle Fire by Lexa Hillyer.


Here is the summary of the book:


A kingdom burns. A princess sleeps. This is no fairy tale.

It all started with the burning of the spindles.

No.

It all started with a curse…

Half sisters Isabelle and Aurora are polar opposites: Isabelle is the king’s headstrong illegitimate daughter, whose sight was tithed by faeries; Aurora, beautiful and sheltered, was tithed her sense of touch and her voice on the same day. Despite their differences, the sisters have always been extremely close.

And then everything changes, with a single drop of Aurora’s blood—and a sleep so deep it cannot be broken.

As the faerie queen and her army of Vultures prepare to march, Isabelle must race to find a prince who can awaken her sister with the kiss of true love and seal their two kingdoms in an alliance against the queen.

Isabelle crosses land and sea; unearthly, thorny vines rise up the palace walls; and whispers of revolt travel in the ashes on the wind. The kingdom falls to ruin under layers of snow. Meanwhile, Aurora wakes up in a strange and enchanted world, where a mysterious hunter may be the secret to her escape…or the reason for her to stay.

REVIEW ==

Fantasy.... Such a fantastic bounty. Yikes..... *LOL* Sorry before I go off on a tangent and start spouting nonsense. Fantasy, Fairytales, Folk-lores and the like have always been the stepping stones to a different world. A brand new world, every new book at a time. Not only do they offer us a magnificent escape from the mundane but there is still loads that can be learned from such stories. The meaning of family, friendship, sacrifice, wonder, dread..... there is a plethora of emotions contained within such stories.

Likewise, Spindle Fire is just the same. A re-invention, re-telling of Sleeping Beauty. Something old ..... and lots of New. Spindle Fire tells us the story of two sisters Aurora and Isabella. Half-sisters but never far from each other. When tragedy strikes as we are familiar with the story of the Beauty who slept. Aurora sleeps and Isabella scours the land for a Prince who might wrestle with the thorns that imprison Aurora in its deep slumber. All the while strengthening their defenses against the marching Faerie Queen and her army..... But of course Aurora herself is not one to stay down, all the while looking for a way to be free of that enchanted world.

Spindle Fire has loads to recommend itself for. All the while there is a lot it seems to fall short of. I did love the author for reinventing Sleepy Beauty. But this story is much more than a fairy tale retelling. There is conflict, treachery, vicious and vivacious Fae and all the pesky little human feelings that stop this book from being just a re-telling. It is really not. At the same time it also felt lack-lustre. Having read more than enough re-tellings, and re-inventions of these popular tales, the modern readers (and I) have pretty much saturated it all and are on the lookout to read something new, to feel something new.

Maybe this was just the beginning. Yes there is a sequel coming out soon. And I will check that out as well and maybe what felt lacking but be rectified when we get to know more of this wonderful world Lexa Hillyer created within the pages of Spindle Fire.

"A few spells short of spellbinding but definitely packs a punch"

Genre :     Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Re-telling, Romance

Publisher: HarperCollins

Release Date: 11th April, 2017

My Copy: publisher & edelweiss

Rate:             4/5 (Really Liked It)

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository 

Splintered #1 Splintered

I'm way late (almost 20 books) behind on my reviews..... DO BEAR WITH ME. Presenting Splintered #1 Splintered by A.G. Howard.


Here is the summary of the book:


This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence.

Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.

When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

REVIEW ==

Curiouser and Curiouser. Lewis Caroll's Alice in Wonderland is a classic whose premise had always been of the trippy. With the modern surge in the publishing of re-telling and re-imaging. The rules of Wonderland have become even more bendy (ya that's me using words out of context here *sweat-drop*). And they work as well. Showalter's Alice in Zombieland series was my personal favorite and 'Splintered', while I took some time getting into the narrative but it somehow manages to take us by storm.

The core basics of the story while stay the same. The protagonist goes down the rabbit hole and has her adventure there..... Well ....... I didn't read the original. But i did every other re-telling of this tale I ever got to read. In a way Splintered is closest to the original. Alyssa Gardner is a descendant of the original Alice Liddell and must do everything she can to keep it together. Not hear the whispers that got her mom landed in the mental hospital. And somehow find the cure to the curse that had been upon her family. Somehow all the while not be enticed by the sexy and rather suspicious Morpheus.

This Wonderland is dark, gritty and very very trippy. As such adding the past Alyssa has a rather hard time differentiating what was real and what was not. Jeb, I just felt bad for him. He may have just been trying to help but well situation did not seem to favor him. Howard's narratives throughout the book while felt a little hard to get into but it bent and broke and twisted us in unexpected ways and by the end of the book i was more than enough invested in the future of these characters. And with the cover this beautiful ...... well I was sold.

"A dark and alluring take on Wonderland"

Genre :     Young Adult, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Romance

Publisher: Amulet Books

Release Date: 1st January, 2013

My Copy: bought (paperback)

Rate:             4/5 (Really Liked It)

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository 

Hunted

Presenting Hunted by Meagan Spooner.

Here is the summary of the book:

Beauty knows the Beast’s forest in her bones—and in her blood. Though she grew up with the city’s highest aristocrats, far from her father’s old lodge, she knows that the forest holds secrets and that her father is the only hunter who’s ever come close to discovering them.

So when her father loses his fortune and moves Yeva and her sisters back to the outskirts of town, Yeva is secretly relieved. Out in the wilderness, there’s no pressure to make idle chatter with vapid baronessas…or to submit to marrying a wealthy gentleman. But Yeva’s father’s misfortune may have cost him his mind, and when he goes missing in the woods, Yeva sets her sights on one prey: the creature he’d been obsessively tracking just before his disappearance.

Deaf to her sisters’ protests, Yeva hunts this strange Beast back into his own territory—a cursed valley, a ruined castle, and a world of creatures that Yeva’s only heard about in fairy tales. A world that can bring her ruin or salvation. Who will survive: the Beauty, or the Beast?

REVIEW ==

Score 1 for 'fantasy' and a well written re-imaging of a fan favorite tale of Beauty and the Beast. And most of all Hunted by Megan Spooner stands on its own two feet. Fairytale while the name may suggest otherwise are not a cutesy depiction of life, nor does every stories ends in a happy ever after.... Well before Disney got their hands on those stories, when they were just word of mouth and fireside tales. Beauty and the Beast likewise had its serious issues.... *coughs* Stockholm Syndrome *cough**cough*.

Moreover this is Yeva and the Beast's tale. Yeva is definitely no damsel in distress neither does she contain an ounce of naivete in her person but she is kind, passionate, selfless and kickass in her own rights. Beast on the other hand, i did not know what to think about. Disney animated version kept his earlier appearance more animal like and even the live action played close to that. So i am happy to report that Spooner's Beast was just the same, if not a bit more. While we felt sad for his circumstances. For this Beast we did not know how his situation came about. So at first we feel quite angry with him because he is quite forceful with her.

But it falls to the mettle of the author to make or break a character, likewise making us feel for such characters. Thus I particularly like how we feel for Yeva and her family's situation, her rough treatment at the hands of the Beast and how she unearths the secrets of the Beast, his castle and the strange new world she finds herself in. We get a much more in-depth look to the characters of the Beast and Yeva than what we usually get. While never naming names, the wordplay and the prose is articulate enough to keep us apprised of the situation and scenes.

The setting for the tale also gives it some credit. It is set in Russia for the most part and magic and the magical is a rather common practice for these people. That said Spooner created a magical atmosphere for the castle to reside in and it was definitely a marvel to experience each and every one of them as we further into the story. Happily dragging us along for the ride with just the turn of the page.

"Exotic and just the right amount of magic to get this adaptation of the Beauty and the Beast to newer heights"

Genre :     Young Adult, Fairytale re-telling, Romance

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: 14th March, 2017

My Copy: publisher & edelweiss

Rate:             4/5 (Really liked It)

Other Books by the Author(review links):
         Starbound (with Amie Kaufman)#1 #2 

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository 

Ravenspire #2 The Wish Granter

Presenting Ravenspire #2 The Wish Granter by C.J. Redwine.

Here is the summary of the book:

An epic, romantic, and action-packed fantasy inspired by the tale of Rumpelstiltskin, about a bastard princess who must take on an evil fae to save her brother’s soul, from C. J. Redwine, the New York Times bestselling author of The Shadow Queen. Perfect for fans of Graceling and the Lunar Chronicles.

The world has turned upside down for Thad and Ari Glavan, the bastard twins of Súndraille’s king. Their mother was murdered. The royal family died mysteriously. And now Thad sits on the throne of a kingdom whose streets are suddenly overrun with violence he can’t stop.

Growing up ignored by the nobility, Ari never wanted to be a proper princess. And when Thad suddenly starts training Ari to take his place, she realizes that her brother’s ascension to the throne wasn’t fate. It was the work of a Wish Granter named Alistair Teague who tricked Thad into wishing away both the safety of his people and his soul in exchange for the crown.

So Ari recruits the help of Thad’s enigmatic new weapons master, Sebastian Vaughn, to teach her how to fight Teague. With secret ties to Teague’s criminal empire, Sebastian might just hold the key to discovering Alistair’s weaknesses, saving Ari’s brother—and herself.

But Teague is ruthless and more than ready to destroy anyone who dares stand in his way—and now he has his sights set on the princess. And if Ari can’t outwit him, she’ll lose Sebastian, her brother…and her soul.

REVIEW ==

Magic always comes with a heavy price..... Somehow despite knowing that people still tend to go about dealing with this stuff and we tend to ohhh and ahhh at it all (can't believe I wrote this with a straight face). In a long trend of adaptations, re-tellings and re-imagings of old classic novels, folk lore and fairytale that have been sweeping the market these days, "The Wish Granter" is not only one of them but it sure makes an impression on us all.

The second book in the Ravenspire series by C.J. Redwine. It beings us as name might indicate, the story of Rumpelstilskin, in a brand new avatar. Redwine's imagines a vibrant and enigmatic world through the pages of the book and skillfully intertwines the stories of Ari, Thad, Teague or be it Sebastian, with a dexterous hand that definitely leaves us rooting for the good guys and not for the bad guys.

Love is a powerful emotion. A powerful weapon in its own right and capable of wreaking the most havoc of them all. Every character throughout this story of Ravenspire (again) does what they can to save the ones they love from despair and ultimate ruin. Thad wants to save his sister. Ari likewise wants to save her brother. In all, the 'Wish Granter' Alistair Teague plays the pivotal role of the nemesis. He is definitely not the conventional Rumpelstilskin, there are definitely influences from other adaptations (majorly of ABC's Once Upon A Time). But he is bold, rather ruthless and capricious enough to warrant caution.

Definitely a game of Cat and mouse but The Wish Granter in my opinion was a lot better than 'The Shadow Queen'. Maybe I was much more invested in these characters than I was with the ones in the first book or these characters had much more substance than what came before. I liked Thad's perseverance, Ari's resourcefulness and love for her brother and cool and brooding Sebastian. Teague was a great villain as i already stated and really like all villains, he didn't start out bad..... Will I recommend it ..... Definitely! Because at the end of the day what's within these pages manages to tether us to our seats.

"Exciting, exotic and a fascinating re-imaging of Rumpelstilskin"

Genre :     Young Adult, Fairytale re-telling, Romance, High Fantasy

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Release Date: 14th February, 2017

My Copy: publisher & edelweiss

Rate:             4/5 (Really Liked It)

Other Books by the Author(review links):
         #1 The Shadow Queen

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository 

Charlotte Holmes #2 The Last of August

Presenting Charlotte Holmes #2 The Last of August by Brittany Cavallaro.

Here is the summary of the book:

Watson and Holmes: A match made in disaster.

Jamie Watson and Charlotte Holmes are looking for a winter-break reprieve after a fall semester that almost got them killed. But Charlotte isn’t the only Holmes with secrets, and the mood at her family’s Sussex estate is palpably tense. On top of everything else, Holmes and Watson could be becoming more than friends—but still, the darkness in Charlotte’s past is a wall between them.

A distraction arises soon enough, because Charlotte’s beloved uncle Leander goes missing from the estate—after being oddly private about his latest assignment in a German art forgery ring. The game is afoot once again, and Charlotte is single-minded in her pursuit.

Their first stop? Berlin. Their first contact? August Moriarty (formerly Charlotte’s obsession, currently believed by most to be dead), whose powerful family has been ripping off famous paintings for the last hundred years. But as they follow the gritty underground scene in Berlin to glittering art houses in Prague, Holmes and Watson begin to realize that this is a much more complicated case than a disappearance. Much more dangerous, too.

What they learn might change everything they know about their families, themselves, and each other.

REVIEW ==

The dreaded book 2 syndrome all over again. The last of August while a smart followup, missed the charm and wit of the first book. There is also not much in way of a family tree provided because there are way too many Holmes and Moriarty(s) to keep track of.

While Jaime and Charlotte are still stumbling through their relationship, with the latter hefting a closet full of skeletons. Things are no longer just confined to the boarding school... Although I sorely missed it, when those two were still learning about each other. I did like the art forgery ring aspect of the story. And what all the plucky detectives have to do to unearth the truth.

While I do understand why Charlotte is the way she is but that hot & cold attitude started to get irritating real fast. Sadly that is pretty much what I found good enough for this story. It's biggest fault being that the author doesn't offer much in the way of remembering the events of the previous book. Hopefully the next one will be much better.

"There is room for improvement but a strapping adventure nonetheless"

Genre :     Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Mystery, Detective, Teen Angst

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Release Date: 14th February, 2017

My Copy: publisher & edelweiss

Rate:             4/5 (Really Liked It)

Other Books by the Author(review links):
         #1 A Study in Charlotte

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository 

Reign of Shadows #2 Rise of Fire

Presenting Reign of Shadows #2 Rise of Fire by Sophie Jordan.

Here is the summary of the book:


The richly suspenseful sequel to Sophie Jordan’s romantic fantasy Reign of Shadows.

Luna and Fowler have escaped the kingdom of Relhok, but they haven’t escaped the darkness. When a battle against the dark dwellers mortally injures Fowler, Luna is faced with a choice: put their fate in the hands of mysterious strangers or risk losing Fowler forever.

Desperate to keep the one bright part of her life alive, Luna accepts the help of soldiers from a nearby kingdom. Lagonia’s castle offers reprieve from the dangerous outside world—until the king discovers both Fowler's and Luna’s true ties to Relhok and their influence over the throne.

Now pawns in each kingdom’s political game, Luna and Fowler are more determined than ever to escape and build the life they’ve been dreaming of. But their own pasts have a tight hold on their hearts and their destinies. Luna must embrace the darkness and fire within her before she loses not only Fowler, but the power she was destined to inherit.

REVIEW ==

Typical of duologies..... They might be a hit... Or a miss. Sadly in case of Rise of Fire, it just doesn't come to par with the fantastic and exciting that was the first book. Reign of Shadows, was a powerhouse in on itself. It was new and very exciting.... Rise of Fire in comparison just doesn't do it justice.

That is not to say that that I disliked Rise of Fire... I did not but it just didn't give that feeling of hair raising fun like the first book. Of course more of Luna and Fowler was a bonus. But other than that it felt like a haphazard mess. Don't get me wrong. There is a happy ending here and personally I like a good and happy ending but what paved the way to that was in the short order a disaster. 

My only beef with this book is just that inclusion of third wheel between Luna and Fowler of the Lagonian royalty and their stake in the power play.... Something that was totally not needed at all in the long run and just served to downgrade a possibly action packed and a hair raising finale. Where it felt like the author just threw in a final confrontation with the creature because she suddenly remembered what the story was all about.

"A disappointing conclusion to an exciting beginning"

Genre :     Young Adult, Dystopia, Post Apocalyptic, Romance, Fairytale re-telling, High Fantasy

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: 7th February, 2017

My Copy: publisher & edelweiss

Rate:             2/5 (It was Ok)

Other Books by the Author(review links):
         Uninvited #1 Uninvited
         Reign of Shadows #1 Reign of Shadows

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository 

Queen of Hearts #2 Blood of Wonderland

Presenting Queen of Hearts #2 Blood of Wonderland by Colleen Oakes.

Here is the summary of the book:

The queen will rise.

Dinah has been exiled from Wonderland. The vicious father she always feared has framed her for the brutal murder of her brother and turned the kingdom against her.

Now hiding in the lush and mysterious Twisted Wood with only her war steed at her side, Dinah is faced with a choice. She could leave Wonderland forever or return and fight her father for her throne—a fight she knows would only result in bloodshed.

When a chance encounter with one of her father’s long-lost enemies brings Dinah more allies than she ever could have imagined, war starts to feel inevitable. But before Dinah can lead her people into combat, she must confront certain truths about her heart and her destiny—no matter how dark those truths may be.

Revolution is rising in Wonderland.

Dinah’s battle has begun.

REVIEW ==

Starting just after the conclusion of the first book. Blood of Wonderland follows Dinah who must crave a niche for herself after her exile from the Wonderland palace. And while this book had it's merits. It still didn't give that awe-inspiring feeling, the first book left me with. 

There also wasn't much in the way of remembering events from the first book in this one. So I felt lost in a lot of places. But Dinah's character development I liked very much and the more in-depth focus to this new Wonderland was cool. To say the least. 

I will of course wait for the next book to actually form a better opinion of the series, because really this has the potential to be something great and I want it to be epic like its synopsis proclaims it to be.

"A new Wonderland and a new adventure that has the potential to be great"

Genre :     Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Fairytale re-telling

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: 31st January, 2017

My Copy: publisher & edelweiss

Rate:             3/5 (Liked It)

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository 

A Monster Calls

Presenting A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd (idea by).

Here is the summary of the book:

The monster showed up after midnight. As they do.

But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting. He’s been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he’s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming…

This monster is something different, though. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor.

It wants the truth.

REVIEW ==

Dark, emotional, sense of family, grief and magical realism. 'A Monster Calls' is everything and so much more packed in this tiny powerhouse. It is not only Conner's tale, but a plethora of all other stories that take a life of their own. The monster wants the truth and he is more than imposing and giant enough to get it. 

Cancer is a disease that can affect you and your families when you least expect it. But it is life and death and it's acceptance that matters most of all. Grief can be deadly. Grief can be immense. Grief takes you over and (by case) can suck the life out of you. Conner needs to accept. Conner needs to move on. But it is not easy when the truth means he looses the only adult figure of his life. That is why truth hurts.

And that is why this book will forever hold a special place in my heart. Because really it made me cry and it made me appreciate life and my loved ones most of all.

(F. Y. I. The movie was as amazing as the book. I'll have a review on my YouTube channel soon so stay tuned)

"Dark, realistic and eye opening with a hint of the magical"

Genre :     Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Speculative

Publisher: Walker Books

Release Date: 27th September, 2011

My Copy: bought (ebook)

Rate:             4/5 (Really Liked It)

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository 

Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children #2 Hollow City

Presenting Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children #2 Hollow City by Ransom Riggs.

Here is the summary of the book:

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children was the surprise best seller of 2011—an unprecedented mix of YA fantasy and vintage photography that enthralled readers and critics alike. Publishers Weekly called it “an enjoyable, eccentric read, distinguished by well-developed characters, a believable Welsh setting, and some very creepy monsters.”

This second novel begins in 1940, immediately after the first book ended. Having escaped Miss Peregrine’s island by the skin of their teeth, Jacob and his new friends must journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. Along the way, they encounter new allies, a menagerie of peculiar animals, and other unexpected surprises.

Complete with dozens of newly discovered (and thoroughly mesmerizing) vintage photographs, this new adventure will delight readers of all ages.

REVIEW ==

Begins just where Miss Peregrine's..... ended. Hollow City was a bit of a hit and miss for me. The second books are usually bridges between the first and the third books. And unfortunately Hollow City became just that. Although like its predecessor this book is a fast read, while still somewhat retaining that mystery and magic. Somehow it wasn't all there. 

The vintage photos that accompany the plot was marvelous as usual, mainting the level of subtle darkness and providing us readers with an exclusive look into the adventure. The children are still searching for someone who could turn Miss Peregrine back to her human form before the change becomes permanent. 

Obviously the journey isn't without peril. But along the way there were impossible and mysterious discoveries as well. And while it wasn't as great as the first book I did like what I read and will definitely be reading the finale Library of Souls. 

"Mesmarising and exciting"

Genre :     Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy

Publisher: Quirk Books

Release Date: 24h February, 2015

My Copy: bought (paperback)

Rate:             3/5 (Liked It)

Other Books by the Author(review links):
         #1 Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository 

The Marvels

Presenting The Marvels by Brian Selznick.

Here is the summary of the book:

Caldecott Award winner and bookmaking trailblazer Brian Selznick once again plays with the form he invented and takes readers on a voyage!

Two seemingly unrelated stories--one in words, the other in pictures--come together. The illustrated story begins in 1766 with Billy Marvel, the lone survivor of a shipwreck, and charts the adventures of his family of actors over five generations. The prose story opens in 1990 and follows Joseph, who has run away from school to an estranged uncle's puzzling house in London, where he, along with the reader, must piece together many mysteries.

REVIEW ==

Remember that book from the treasure planet animated movie when the character opens it and the story within plays in front of the person reading the book as a hologram. Like an entire world within the book..... Well 'The Marvels' gave me that same feeling.

It's about art, family, love, life and all of its nuances. It's about two different stories told through 2 different mediums. One purely as page turning art and the other as a prose. It's how two such seemingly different stories come to connect in seemingly impossible ways to bring us a story that is not only a marvel to go through but a proverbial treasure in itself. 

"Aptly named it is a literal marvel and a stunning work of art"

Genre :     Middle Grade, Graphic Novel, Historical fiction, Fantasy realism

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Release Date: 15th September, 2015

My Copy: bought (hardback)

Rate:             5/5 (It was Amazing)

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository 

Red Queen #2 Glass Sword

Presenting Red Queen #2 Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard.

Here is the summary of the book:

If there’s one thing Mare Barrow knows, it’s that she’s different.

Mare Barrow’s blood is red—the color of common folk—but her Silver ability, the power to control lightning, has turned her into a weapon that the royal court tries to control.

The crown calls her an impossibility, a fake, but as she makes her escape from Maven, the prince—the friend—who betrayed her, Mare uncovers something startling: she is not the only one of her kind.

Pursued by Maven, now a vindictive king, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Red-and-Silver fighters to join in the struggle against her oppressors.

But Mare finds herself on a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat.

Will she shatter under the weight of the lives that are the cost of rebellion? Or have treachery and betrayal hardened her forever?

The electrifying next installment in the Red Queen series escalates the struggle between the growing rebel army and the blood-segregated world they’ve always known—and pits Mare against the darkness that has grown in her soul.

REVIEW ==

Red Queen came as a surprise and stayed ablaze with its newness and it's exciting and dangerous new premise. Not only did the author create a different world but one that promises much and delivers on it too. With the flow of words as such the plot... No this series is as a whole is enough to set our hearts racing. 

And the same can be said for the sequel "Glass Sword". Beginning soon after the events of the first book. Cal and Mare are on the run from Maven. She knows as the synopsis says that she is not the only one of her kind, there are others.... Maven knows that too and for lack of a better term this is a race against time as the good guys must save these new bloods before Maven gets to them. 

Along the way Mare must learn the do(s) and don't(s) of her ability and hopefully save everyone. Cal on the other hand is the outsider and while the resistance see him as the enemy, things are on always black and white. Danger lurks in every corner of their world. Throughout Cal and Mare may have their ups and downs but in a sense they maintain their solidarity till the end.

There was a certain ounce of darkness that prevails throughout this book and if the events are any indication then the next books in the series too maintain that vibe.... Yes I am excited to learn what happens next and really you should be too. 

"With a darker vibe, Glass Sword delivers as an enticing sequel"

Genre :     Young Adult, Dystopia, Paranormal, Romance, High Fantasy

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: 9th February, 2016

My Copy: Courtesy of  Hachette India

Rate:             5/5 (It was Amazing)

Other Books by the Author(review links):
         #1 Red Queen

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