Book Reviews | Thoughts By J

ARC Review: Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde

2017 Releases, Book Reviews, Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult, Romance
Format Read: ARC
Pages: 288
Published by Pan Macmillan Australia on March 14th 2017
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When BFFs Charlie, Taylor and Jamie go to SupaCon, they know it’s going to be a blast. What they don’t expect is for it to change their lives forever.
Charlie likes to stand out. SupaCon is her chance to show fans she’s over her public breakup with co-star, Reese Ryan. When Alyssa Huntington arrives as a surprise guest, it seems Charlie’s long-time crush on her isn’t as one-sided as she thought.

While Charlie dodges questions about her personal life, Taylor starts asking questions about her own.

Taylor likes to blend in. Her brain is wired differently, making her fear change. And there’s one thing in her life she knows will never change: her friendship with Jamie—no matter how much she may secretly want it to. But when she hears about the Queen Firestone SupaFan Contest, she starts to rethink her rules on playing it safe.

Book Review: A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3) by Sarah J. Maas

2017 Releases, Book Reviews, Fantasy, New Adult

A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #3) by Sarah J. Maas
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult
Format Read: Hardback
Pages: 705
Published by Bloomsbury Australia, Bloomsbury USA on May 2nd 2017
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A nightmare, I’d told Tamlin. I was the nightmare.

Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin’s maneuverings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit — and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well. As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords — and hunt for allies in unexpected places.

Book Review: Half-Blood (Covenant #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Book Reviews

Half-Blood (Covenant, #1) Series: Covenant
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Genres: Paranormal, Fantasy, Young Adult
Format Read: eBook
Pages: 304
Published by Spencer Hill Press on September 19th 2011
Book Depository

The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi—pure-bloods—have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals—well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures.

Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:

Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden.

Unfortunately, she’s crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn’t her biggest problem—staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

Book Review: Caraval (Caraval #1) by Stephanie Garber

2017 Releases, Book Reviews, Fantasy, Mystery, Young Adult

Caraval (Caraval, #1) by Stephanie Garber
Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Young Adult
Format Read: Hardback
Pages: 402
Published by Hodder & Stoughton on January 31st 2017
Book Depository | Buy from publisher

Whatever you've heard about Caraval, it doesn't compare to the reality. It's more than just a game or a performance. It's the closest you'll ever find to magic in this world . . .

Welcome, welcome to Caraval―Stephanie Garber’s sweeping tale of two sisters who escape their ruthless father when they enter the dangerous intrigue of a legendary game.

Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.

ARC Review: Traitor to the Throne (Rebel of the Sands #2) by Alwyn Hamilton

2017 Releases, Book Reviews, Fantasy, Young Adult

Traitor to the Throne (Rebel of the Sands #2) by Alwyn Hamilton
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Format Read: ARC
Pages: 570
Published by Faber & Faber on February 2nd 2017
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This is not about blood or love. This is about treason.

Nearly a year has passed since Amani and the rebels won their epic battle at Fahali. Amani has come into both her powers and her reputation as the Blue-Eyed Bandit, and the Rebel Prince's message has spread across the desert - and some might say out of control. But when a surprise encounter turns into a brutal kidnapping, Amani finds herself betrayed in the cruellest manner possible.

Stripped of her powers and her identity, and torn from the man she loves, Amani must return to her desert-girl's instinct for survival. For the Sultan's palace is a dangerous one, and the harem is a viper's nest of suspicion, fear and intrigue. Just the right place for a spy to thrive... But spying is a dangerous game, and when ghosts from Amani's past emerge to haunt her, she begins to wonder if she can trust her own treacherous heart.

Book Review: Lady Helen and the Dark Days Pact (Lady Helen #2) by Alison Goodman

2017 Releases, Book Reviews, Fantasy, Historical Fiction

Lady Helen and the Dark Days Pact (Lady Helen, #2) Series: Lady Helen #2
Also in this series: Lady Helen and the Dark Days Club (Lady Helen #1)
by Alison Goodman
Genres: Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Format Read: Paperback
Pages: 464
on January 1st 2017
Book Depository | Buy from publisher

After the scandalous events at her presentation ball in London, Lady Helen has taken refuge at the fashionable seaside resort of Brighton, where she is training to be a Reclaimer with the covert Dark Days Club.

As she struggles to put aside her genteel upbringing and take up the weapons of a warrior, Helen realizes that her mentor, Lord Carlston, is fighting his own inner battle. Has the foul Deceiver energy poisoned his soul, or is something else driving him towards violent bouts of madness? Either way, Helen is desperate to help the man with whom she shares a deep but forbidden connection.

When Mr Pike, the hard bureaucratic heart of the Dark Days Club, arrives in Brighton, no one is prepared for the ordinary evil he brings in his wake. He has a secret task for Helen and Mr Hammond, and the authority of the Prince Regent. They have no choice but to do as he orders, knowing that the mission will betray everyone around them and possibly bring about Lord Carlston's annihilation.

Double Book Review: Truthwitch and Windwitch (The Witchlands 1 & 2) by Susan Dennard

2016 Releases, 2017 Releases, Book Reviews, Fantasy, Young Adult

Truthwitch (The Witchlands #1) by Susan Dennard
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Format Read: Paperback
Pages: 412
Published by Pan Macmillan Australia on February 23rd 2016
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In a continent on the edge of war, two witches hold its fate in their hands.
Young witches Safiya and Iseult have a habit of finding trouble. After clashing with a powerful Guildmaster and his ruthless Bloodwitch bodyguard, the friends are forced to flee their home.

Safi must avoid capture at all costs as she's a rare Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lies. Many would kill for her magic, so Safi must keep it hidden - lest she be used in the struggle between empires. And Iseult's true powers are hidden even from herself.

In a chance encounter at Court, Safi meets Prince Merik and makes him a reluctant ally. However, his help may not slow down the Bloodwitch now hot on the girls' heels. All Safi and Iseult want is their freedom, but danger lies ahead. With war coming, treaties breaking and a magical contagion sweeping the land, the friends will have to fight emperors and mercenaries alike. For some will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

Book Review: And I Darken (The Conqueror’s Saga #1) by Kiersten White

2016 Releases, Book Reviews, Fantasy, Historical Retelling

And I Darken (Conqueror's Saga, #1) by Kiersten White
Genres: Historical Retelling
Format Read: Paperback
Pages: 484
Published by Corgi Childrens on July 7th 2016
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No one expects a princess to be brutal. And Lada Dragwyla likes it that way.
Ever since she and her brother were abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman sultan’s courts, Lada has known that ruthlessness is the key to survival. For the lineage that makes her and her brother special also makes them targets.

Lada hones her skills as a warrior as she nurtures plans to wreak revenge on the empire that holds her captive. Then she and Radu meet the sultan’s son, Mehmed, and everything changes. Now Mehmed unwittingly stands between Lada and Radu as they transform from siblings to rivals, and the ties of love and loyalty that bind them together are stretched to breaking point.

The first of an epic new trilogy starring the ultimate anti-princess who does not have a gentle heart. Lada knows how to wield a sword, and she'll stop at nothing to keep herself and her brother alive.

Book Review: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Screenplay) by J.K. Rowling

2016 Releases, Book Reviews, Fantasy

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling
Genres: Fantasy
Format Read: Hardback
Pages: 293
Published by Hachette on November 18th 2016
Book Depository | Buy from publisher

When Magizoologist Newt Scamander arrives in New York, he intends his stay to be just a brief stopover. However, when his magical case is misplaced and some of Newt's fantastic beasts escape, it spells trouble for everyone…

Book Review: My Best Friend is a Goddess by Tara Eglington

2016 Releases, Book Reviews, Contemporary, Young Adult

My Best Friend is a Goddess by Tara Eglington
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary
Format Read: ARC
Pages: 386
Published by Harper Collins Australia on October 24th 2016
Book Depository | Buy from publisher

Emily has been friends with Adriana since Year One, way back when Adriana had a huge gap between her teeth and was super skinny. Emily wasn't any less awkward looking, and the girls are inseparable all through primary and into high school.

But when Adriana's mother dies during the autumn of Year Eight, everything changes. Adriana's father accepts a job in Borneo and suddenly, the two best friends, who’ve always been together, are almost ten thousand miles apart. Despite the distance, and a rubbish internet connection, the girls manage to stay in touch for the next 18 months.

And then Adriana announces that she’s coming home.

Emily can’t wait for things to go back to how they were – except one thing is undeniably different from the moment Adriana’s plane touches down at Jefferson airport. Adriana has gone from awkward to AMAZING. As in Victoria’s Secret model level of amazing – an utter goddess.

People stop her in the street to tell her she should model. Boys throw themselves at her everywhere she goes. The popular girls at school (aka The Tens), who made Adriana’s life hell once upon a time, are now following her on Insta and sending her pics on snapchat.

Thankfully, Adriana is no different on the inside. She's still the same best friend Emily knows and loves, and they're certainly not going to lose their friendship over the fact that Adriana has lucked out genetically.

Emily just wishes that one guy, any guy, would want to get to know her for some other reason besides being Adriana's best friend. In the meantime, she's committed to helping Adriana manage the throngs of potential suitors who are texting, emailing and adding Emily on Facebook in the hope of an introduction to 'the goddess', as Adriana is still pretty shy around boys and no-one's made her want to step out of her shell.

That is, until she sees the brand new and super cute guy in Emily's art class. The one called Theo, who makes Emily laugh so much she can barely focus on her own canvas. The only guy that Emily’s ever felt a real connection with – and the first one that doesn't seem all that affected by Adriana's appearance.

Two best friends crushing on one very cute guy ... someone's going to get their heart broken.

MY BEST FRIEND IS A GODDESS is about what happens to a friendship when two girls change - and not just on the outside.