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Showing posts from October, 2020

Review: None Shall Sleep by Ellie Marney

What a spooky month to read this book! I loved it-it had the murder goodness stuff I enjoy reading (oh goodness that may have flagged me on the ASIO/FBI/CIA/Interpol lists now oopsies), but seriously-it was such a gripping read. One of my anticipated reads for the year, and it didn't disappoint one bit! I loved the writing, the setting, the premise, and all the little gory bits. I also loved our 'friend' Simon, even though he's a killer. Overall, yet another amazing Ellie Marney book! Rating: 5/5

Review: You Were Made for Me by Jenna Guillaume

This book was ADORABLE. I loved Katie and Libby's dialogue, the cringey moments, and the whole romcom feel of this one. I absolutely sympathise with the mean girls are after me thing, because I 100% felt that back in school, but I'm over it now given I'm an #Adult and am more mature than they'll ever be haha. I did laugh a lot when reading this one (even though I was trying to stifile it whilst reading it in bookclub oops)! Rating: 4.5/5

Mini review: Heartstopper Volume 1-3 by Alice Oseman

Holy moly I need the next volume asap, I adore Narlie! <3  I recently finished volume 3 and this one hit me in the feels-I was awhing and laughing right through this one. I love the illustrations too, obviously! Rating: 5/5

Review: Loner by Georgina Young

I loved the premise of this book, and definitely feel like it's bordering on New Adult, rather Young Adult.  I definitely enjoyed the sharp, snappy chapters, especially the ones about the Coles. This book was also super heavy on the Melbourne culture, and I could picture myself right there with Lona. I felt like the whole 'what am I supposed to be doing in life' is 110% me, given I'm just about to finish an honours year at uni and I still frankly have no clue what to do next. Rating: 3.5/5

Review: The Lost Soul Atlas by Zana Fraillon

This is such a cute middle grade read. I was gifted this one by the lovely Star (https://littlemissstar55.wordpress.com/), and I adored every page of it! I loved how this one was focusing on memories and remembering, and also letting go when you need to. The story was hard-hitting, but also kind of fantastical and I loved it. I also really adored the dual timepoint perspective, and I felt like it serves its purpose here super well.  The characters, the writing, and the worldbuilding were absolutely gorgeous, and I want more of it! Rating: 4/5

Review: It's Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake by Claire Christian

We all know a disaster person (in my case, it’s me), but Noni Blake is definitely the cream of the crop for disaster people- and is the main character of It’s Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake! A funny, engaging, and light-hearted story, and definitely an interesting read for those who like a bit of a more carefree story. Speaking of carefree- Noni Blake at the start of the book calls herself beige and basically not carefree. Two years after her separation from Joan, her long-term partner, she finds herself still trying to pick up the pieces. Even more so is that her most recent flirt is no longer around either, so that makes her feel lost. I loved how this builds the character of Noni Blake, as if she was some sort of true blue actual person, and it really sets the scene for the story to come. Speaking of great characters, Lindel, Noni’s best friend is also excellent- wise in a friendly way, but also very encouraging, something I’d love to see in more characters in more books. Lindel and hi

Review: The Kindgdom of Back by Marie Lu

Diving in, I had no expectations- I picked it purely because of the stunning cover (seriously, it's GORGEOUS!!).  I wasn't disappointed though, even if it was a historical fiction-which I do struggle with. I definitely didn't struggle with this one though! Being both about Nannerl and Wolferl Mozart, I adored the writing and the characters. Even Hyacinth was a character I enjoyed. I felt so immersed into the story that I couldn't put this one down. The storyline was excellent, and I genuinely enjoyed this book! Rating: 4/5

Review: Havenfall by Sara Holland

I loved the premise of this book, but I kind of wanted more from it. I loved the characters and the plot, however it didn't have the oomph factor I wanted from this one. I did however love the whole concept of portal worlds coming to collide at Havenfall and it's one of my favourite things about this book, even if I wanted MORE of it. Definitely a fun read that smashes coming-of-age with fantasy and I'm here for it! Rating: 3.5/5

Review: The Erasure Initiative by Lili Wilkinson

 Safe to say I absolutely loved this book. It dealt with morals, friendships, and other thrilling things. As one of my favourites, I DEVOURED this one in a single day, with absolutely no regrets! I loved the whole thing, the writing, the plot, the characters. It's definitely my kind of read. Not only gripping, but the whole moral thing was A+, and the moving bus scenario just had me hooked from the started. Overall, this book was one big giant HOT DAMN and I definitely recommend it! 5/5

The Secret Life of Stars: A blog tour post!

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To celebrate the release of The Secret Life of Stars, here's my blog tour stop with thanks to AusYABloggers and Thames & Hudson Australia! Check out more stops on the tour  here ! Here's a brief synopsis: We all know the Sun, the powerhouse of our solar system, but what about Luyten’s Flare, the Rosino-Zwicky Object or Chanal’s variable star? For those whose curiosity takes them far beyond Earth’s atmosphere, The Secret Life of Stars offers a personal and readily understood introduction to some of the Galaxy’s most remarkable stars. Each chapter connects us to the various different and unusual stars and their amazing characteristics and attributes, from pulsars, blue stragglers and white dwarfs to cannibal stars and explosive supernovae. With chapter illustrations by Eirian Chapman, this book brings to life the remarkable personalities of these stars, reminding readers what a diverse and unpredictable universe we live in and how fortunate we are to live around a stable star

Review: Kingdom of Sea and Stone by Mara Rutherford

 If you couldn’t get enough of Mara Rutherford’s Crown of Coral and Pearl, never fear- there’s now a second book, Kingdom of Sea and Stone! Reuniting us with sisters Nor and Zadie, this next installment continues to be a unique story in its own right! I was personally thrilled to learn that there would be a second book, because that meant that I could have more time with Nor and Zadie. Get that extra time, I did indeed. In this second book, we see both Nor and Zadie grow into their characters more, and I loved how this happened. I also loved the interactions between the sisters and it really took a more protective stance in this book against the bad guy, and it made me smile because I love that type of sisterly bond. I like how the bond grows because it’s kind of nice and rather unique to have in a book. I also loved how the world building was also absolutely superb, and continued to capture me into the world, and I really enjoyed it as a whole. Especially the kingdom that is focused o

Review: Fleet Elements by Walter Jon William

With a pace that is faster than light, Walter Jon Williams’s fifth book in the Dread Empire’s Fall series, Fleet Elements is a space opera book that doesn’t disappoint.  The book is set ten years after book four, where we return to see Gareth Martinez and his former love interest and Caroline Sula at the centre stage, with much of the story centering around them. This was definitely a good thing, as the dialogue was fun, witty, and engaging between them! I also love how the dynamic between the two is still rather on edge at the start, kind of like one of them forced the other to suck on a lemon. This is definitely a space opera novel that is really well done, and has many intricate little plot points, even though it feels like a lot is going on with each page read. I enjoyed how the main problem was some species determining humans are not worth it and started to disarm the entire human fleet and boot them from the government, essentially making the humans rebels. The way Martinez and S

This One is Ours: A blog tour post!

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To celebrate the release of This One is Ours, here's my blog tour stop with thanks to AusYABloggers and UQP! Check out more stops on the tour here ! Here's a brief synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Sofie is a dreamer, an artist and a romantic. So when she goes on exchange to Paris, she is expecting magnificent adventures of the heart and mind. Yet France isn't what she imagined. It's cold and grey, and she finds speaking another language exhausting. Sofie’s more homesick than lovesick. But then her host sister, Delphine, and fellow artist Olivier show her a different side of Paris, and Sofie starts to question her ideas of art, beauty and meaning. Of everything. There’s truth in what her best friend, Crow, has been saying all along: the world is in crisis and people need to take notice. But what can one girl do? Will Sofie be able to find the courage to fight for change? This One is Ours is a call to action for anyone who feels helpless about the state of the world, as well as