Reviewing... [49] NORTH POLE REFORM SCHOOL.

Christmas time, mistletoe & wine healthy elf-loved peppermint tea (oops... doesn't fit in the song's timing :'( )

Reviewing... [49] Source: Thanks Jaimie for this... It was a review copy, but this hasn't affected, as always, my review in any way.Author: Jaimie Admans Recommended for: Christmas lovers & Christmas haters. You will get a laugh from this Christmassy comedy (romance?). People who don't believe (and you've got to admit, that includes you & I... even after I've read this) will still find this endearing. This is a young adult but probably best for the upper end (like Afterlife Academy) due to the content. ~

My Thoughts:

Endearing? Woah. That's not the only adjective I could use to describe (cos that's there's function, but whatever) this tale of Mistletoe & some other Christmas-ruiners who find themselves at the: NORTH POLE REFORM SCHOOL.

Jaimie has crafted an amazing place, a novel where so many dramatic things happen. Jaimie is essentially very like a Welsh Miranda Hart... Not that Miranda Hart writes fiction or should write anything like this. As, although this is obviously a comedy, at the heart it's a lot less plain that that. It's mostly funny but also soft, sad, romantic, cute but always... amazing. Honestly. Like yeah...

Yikes!
I'm not just saying that because, as Jaimie perfectly illustrates, Christmas can be all those things. If you want to know my true opinion on Christmas (but I shouldn't think that affected my opinion on this book much at all), for starters, on the Christmas books: I haven't actually read that many Christmas books. I mean most totally devalue Christmas for me or end up not seeming Christmassy... Just because a book is set in Winter does not make it a Christmas book. It's ideal for Winter which is the season Christmas is in if you live in the UK but still: mislabelling. This book is appropriately labeled, even though it's not about the real Christmas... You know, the Christian one which I believe in as I'm a Christian :P

 If you have read a book you thought was closer to the commercial Christmas to the Nativity Christmas (which is my Christmas), I'd like to point out: I don't mind either Christmassses being here, obviously. And this novel is absolutely great, even sticking with the North Pole type of Christmas. It also means NPRS didn't turn that kind of preachy even though I'd say, given the chance, most of the elves would preach better than a really informed prophet. I can't believe they're not against the commercialism of Christmas & although I totally understand their point of view as well, I'm glad we had people against it. I suppose they don't mean to commercial, it's just their lifestyle (candy canes, santa, reindeer) kind of is an example of commercial Christmas. Surreal is more the word for the world our characters inhabit, for a month or... well, we'll let you see the time frame, shall we? But yes, it's bizarre, it's somehow vivid as well & there's a lil' tinge of cute-as-pie girl & boy. Luke isn't exactly your boy-next-door & he's the best guy of the three YA's I've read of Jaimie's, in my opinion.
I think Luke & Mistletoe are the best examples of anti-Christmas individuals (yet I still loved them, because they don't hate everything & are still positive, not miserable, even though they were kidnapped by a purple moose it seems...). Emily is really odd & her Grinch-like approach is totally funny. I think she'll appeal to lots of you, and gain a spot in your heart for her little fear... which I believe she shares with some of my bloggy friends. Ducks, eh? Hugo, well, we find out he hates Christmas because of his parents... His response is totally whacky, And Joe is just a... well, the book explains that quite well & I'm not one for putting in expletives (at least not in a review :P) Plus, his jokes? Joe's the standard loser. NO, Joe, you've not become a comedian overnight. Not even with all the Christmas magic at the North Pole! I don't think anyone could say being reformed turned Joe into a decent human being... Just sayin'. Funnily enough, Mistletoe & Luke (aww! Such cute people... umm, together :D) more than reform & they go from being understandable, likeable & hatin' on this situation in the North Pole to being... Aww. Just so perfect & loveable. Seriously, I want to know these people. Mistletoe has just been unfortunately named & Luke... eared (not a word? OK, apparently it actually is!). She'd be better with a name like 'Hope'. Cos that's what I see Mistletoe as... She's just such a nice human being who probably isn't big on Christmas cos (an annoying thing is totally this) people think it's one of the only times you have to be nice to people. Be nice to people, rain or shine. Holiday or ordinary workday (I hope I'm not getting preachy like Tinsel, one of the head elves, now...)

Should've either begun or ended the review with this but it works here, doesn't it? Riiight?  OK, still that review failure even now I've done 1, of about a million, but whatever. JUST DON'T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT... >.>


Yup, I think Luke and Mistletoe learn their lesson... I mean we see it for a little & wonder why it's dragging on (well, they must think it is!) It's all fun but the serious part of you is thinking, sure it's all jokey at the moment & I'm enjoying seeing the dynamics of the Reform Group but... when do they get their 'Get Out Of Reform School Free' monopoly card? (No, my serious part of my brain probably is more serious than that!) 

And then it was like Chapter 22... All I will tell you is I thought that'd be it. The End. Done & dusted. But, that would've been rushed! My brain was full of unflattering thoughts to elves who dragged poor, admittedly Christmas-ruiners (but sometimes accidentally so!) to North Pole & gave them such a rubbish ending to the programme. Plus, Joe going first? Fissshhhy. But you know, thanks Jaimie, for sorting that out. I now have more flattering feelings towards this book which is just so fun to devour.

You'll see that this book is awesome. Even though the end was better than I'd saw at first judging of seeing that chapter... (which is 84% through. But you can pack a punch in less than 20% of a book, trust us) I wish it hadn't ended. It's a book that I could read a few pages of, that I could read & have epilogues upon epilogues to... (umm, no, be careful what you wish for before you say it) sequel? I mean, we've, almost all of us, read the Harry Potter series & you know that's thousands of pages overall... But that literally summarizes it. It's a fabulous book & you just want to read more about the characters as they are really good at latching on to your heart strings. I can't stop them tugging them!... So maybe, be my besties, guys? I promise I won't "Merry Christmas" you before you show me it's OK (as in, I'll return the favour when you say it first cos you'll be in the mood).

Amy Bookworm (@Amy_Bookworm)rated this book:


 Go read it. I know it's Boxing Day but... go read it. NOW. READ IT. NOW. GO.... GO. GO. 

And did I say?, I hope you had a fab Christmas. Wishing you the best for the new year...

Reviewing... [48] Harry Potter & the Philosophers Stone (with Harry!)

~This is an old review from my Kid's Korner post @ Once Upon A Series. It was written when I was a HPVirgin. Technically, it is still a review although... hmm. It's very different, shall I say? You'll see! It was really interesting to do & hopefully interesting to read...~

With no further ado, I give you:

Reviewing... [48] Source: Purchased (by both parties... haha, lol! You'll see that as well).Reviewed by: Amy Bookworm (primarily), with summary from Chrissie (see above).Author: *headdesk* J.K. Rowling. (You must know this! I met someone who lived under a risk... they knew that).Publisher: Uhh... you mean one of them? Bloomsbury Publishing! Recommended for: *raises eyebrows* Everybody? It's a children's fantasy but let me tell you... I hope you, any children you may have & even teens really enjoy reading this- if you know any kids thinking of reading, get them to read this & they may be convinced to read, before watching, the Harry Potter series! It's OK to do this of course but I'd love to hear that you've got people to read this, or just you've read it & enjoyed it!~

My Review-me-bob-thing:

Amy: So, I haven’t read Harry Potter. How?

You must have heard so much, did you say?

Well I knew who Harry Potter was. You’re a wizard, Harry.

Living with the Dursleys, I knew. Arrived in the night.

Hagrid, Albus Dumbledore and Minnie Mcgonagall. Professors.

Giants- triple the man Voldermort is.

Or shall I call him He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named?

You-Know-Who. Slytherin.

I knew about that, and have heard of Snape.

There’s snakes and languages wizards sometimes use to communicate-

Speaking to snakes isn’t that normal though.

Should a Gryffindor have that power?

Not a Huffle Puff or a Ravenclaw,

Harry is one of a trio: him, Hermione and Ron.

They go through Hogwarts, year after year.

Death eaters nor Quidditch destroy their friendship.

But- the question is- is there more to Harry Potter?

I believe it must be about more than just those things.

More than just those and a tale of Azkaban to follow, or why is it so popular?

Everlasting hype, is that what made millions recommend it to me,

Or should I say- push it at me, guilt-tripping me...

I hadn’t read it. But then I did.

Director: CUT! This wasn’t supposed to be a poetry competition. You can’t tell us random things which you knew before reading, what else did you find out during reading? You’ve got to tell us your thoughts. This is a review. You’re writing a poem. So, we’ll need to get someone to help you.

Amy: What? So I’ll do a joint review? You can get someone to do that... Well, I better let the other person speak. Already have spouted over 200 hundred words and I’ve not yet said what I think.
Director: Exactly. Now we’re going to get somewhere. I’m going to get Chrissie to introduce this, is that OK?
Amy: I just said it was OK if they speak. Go on, then *looks at fellow reviewer* Anapneo!
Director: Who said Chrissie had blocked airways?
Amy: She wasn't speaking!
Director: They probably don’t want to speak to someone who has a babbling curse. If we undo it then maybe we can get on with this review in a... well, an efficient manner?
Amy: Pardon? Evanesco Director! *smiles at nicer companion than Director and then blanches* Wait, you’re not Chrissie! I need Chrissie to review this with but, umm... hello! *looks at boy and stands up so she can walk round him, she looks him up and down* No, you’re not really... Not really...
Harry: Um, sorry? I really am Harry Potter, if that’s who you mean. Who’s Chrissie and what do you mean, review?
Amy: You lived with muggles! How do you not know about book reviews? They give books, like your books, fame and then even now- people are still reviewing them, or sharing their opinions about the series with the world. Chrissie and I both review here... You’re in Once Upon A Series’ set and we were just about to discuss “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”.
Harry: How strange. I don’t know I arrived here. I’m tempted to wipe your memory but in the second book we find out that’s a bad idea- even with the right wand!
Amy: Ah, wands. Can I see your wand, please? I remember you walking into Diagon Alley with Hagrid, finding the shop with wands and really, even you were blown away! Mr. Ollivander sure likes his wands... Remembers every sale, from Hagrid’s wand to He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named, You-Know-Who!
Harry: Surely your set is safe enough to say Voldermort? Surely?
Amy: Shut up. I liked you better in the book. I just plain really liked all three of you especially. You make a fantastic trio, you know?
Harry: Well, thank you kindly.
Amy: I trust you don’t get bigheaded like Hermoine... Or Percy, he’s a lot worse. I don’t know how Ron copes with Hermoine and his brother both jabbering on like they came from the same nest. Talking about nests, I really think Hagrid should stop nurturing baby monsters. I have a feeling the Dragon wasn’t his first monster which got him, and you, in trouble! But, well, we’ll find out. Of course, there is so much to explore in the series and; I’m far from done with your world, Harry... What do you think about the fact that all the time people of many ages are finding the Harry Potter series...?
Harry: If you don’t mind me pointing it out, isn’t this supposed to be about your opinions?
Amy: Well, yes... I think it’s magical. Your turn!
Harry: That’s cheating, and you’ll think I’m bigheaded if I say...
Amy: Well, I’ll say it for you, your adventures are amazing. One thing that did annoy me was how your adventure happened in the middle of the exams, at the end of the year and whatnot. It’s not especially good to have a slow build up of the world, and characters, for more than half a book- why did it need to take half a book- and then zip zam... All the action is gone in a blink and you’re back in safe realms of Hogwarts being awarded house points!
Harry: Zip Zam isn’t a spell, it’s just weird, you know?
Amy: Don’t you know when to keep quiet? How many times? Shut up.
Harry: Maybe you’re pretending to be Hermione. Your hair isn't curly enough, you have the piles of books nailed but so far you haven’t actually corrected me, just told me to be quiet.
Amy: Ha, I’m not Hermoine. Book bloggers are a bit like her though, we definitely like books. Has she really never told you to be quiet?
Harry: *raises eyebrows* You are a muggle, you know.
Amy: I’m actually 2/7 wizard. I have 5 more books to go.
Harry: Go read. I refuse to talk to you anymore...
Amy: Tell Hermoine I love her and not to over-revise for exams, she has the talent and puts my procrastinating soul to shame...
Harry: *mumbles* She puts anyone to shame *disappears in a puff of smoke*
Amy: I really need to learn that spell...
Chrissie: What spell?
Amy: You’re here, finally. You’re late and you missed Harry...
Chrissie: You’re imagining things, Amy. So, you don’t need me? Not even for the Summary?
Amy: You could do the Summary, as you didn't so much as do the introduction *tuts but hands over parchment*

Summary (from Chrissie) - A great start to what is supposed to be an amazing series. And I'm sure that things will continue to get even better as the series continues now that the scene has been so beautifully set in this first novel. I can't wait to see what else is in store for Harry and his friends.
(Amy: I literally couldn't wait... Umm, oops? I reviewed it finally though, with a little help from Chrissie, I hope you enjoy the books, or you may have already, & this fun review!)

Reviewing... [47] Reaper's Rhythm

Reviewing... [47] Source: Recieved for review... Author: Clare Davidson Recommended for: ...better to say who it's not recommended for. It tells you more. Like, not young children or... yup, that's all I've got.

This book is essentially about Kim, and her family, dealing with elder sister Charley's death... Kim isn't there to grieve like her family, or get irritated because suicide is selfish (he knows who I'm talking to here :P) she is literally on her own little murder mystery. When a girl wants to find out what happened to her sister, and is sure it wasn't suicide, you wouldn't expect it to unravel to Reaper's Rhythm. Actually, a saga: The Hidden Series. You can expect to relate to Kim, no matter what age you are; it's not about age. I think her Mum's reaction is, and even Chris' is. But I think some of the reactions of grief are not likely to happen just to teenage girls (this means Kim's, Amy's & other peers of Kim and her deceased sister, Charley). Obviously, they are ones I can imagine (and totally would not want to experience...) best but you will relate to other characters too, besides Kim. You may not ever react like that yourself, or hopefully be in a situation as stressful & upsetting, but you will.

(to be precise, this).

Kim just has what lots of people have: Faith in family and… curiosity. Why shouldn't she investigate? Sure, it's going to be sad & it can even beg the question regarding revenge.  I expected it to be about justice but this series is going to be so much more. It's sensational- there is a mix of themes & I'm not sure which ones I need to cover. You do need to know that they all fit, there's space for all of them, as they develop & mature, forming lovely diverse, dynamic characters & reactions suitable for them. At least in my opinion, I recognize all this "crafting" & would happily read more about this family, and even the other characters (OK! Especially Matthew) as Davidson has really made them jump out from the age. If I was basing on the ending, you wouldn't expect sequels! In series, it's hard to get the right ending. For the first book(s), where cliffhangers are common place & also to the last book where you have to try & wrap up the book, all the last books & tie all the strings together. Quite a lot of authors leave loose ends in a few of their books! But I loved the ending of Reaper's Rhythm a lot; I liked the whole thing but it was the ending that settled it for me. It was just: WOW. If I was just basing on the ending, 5 stars. But, I've got to be honest. I wouldn't tire of that ending, had I read it a dozen times. I could read it over & over. It's tempting to just leave it at that, if I rated books when I'd just finished them I'd honestly be basing it mainly on the ending (the part that can make or break you). However, even though there was a lot of tension & lots of drama- highs and lows- there were even some fabulous paranormal aspects I hadn't seen coming at all... *spoiler* (you know I mentioned that Matthew guy- if not, look up & then get the blurb up, well...) The paranormal aspect is kind of, in short, angels. In long, Kim is confused too & I have proof: In the list of insane things, flying with an invisible not-angel is probably quite low down (loc 2134 of RR). I said it was a spoiler FYI *spoiler* Reaper's Rhythm it isn't quite worth 5 stars. There were only tiny bits when I wasn't 100% satisfied, or I didn't enjoy it as much. Overall, it's mainly the beginning. It was a little bit of a slow burner & I wasn't that interested in Matthew or Kevin or a certain horrible character *cough* Tee *cough* A... Bitch (quite a common word in this book, but if you don't mind it half a dozen times over 200+ pages then that's OK!)

I ended up liking them (well no, I didn't like Tia... she did seem mean-spirited from page 1, or whichever page she was introduced!) I guess. So, why should you read this?

Cos, overall it was...

(according to Amy Bookworm, and that's still pretty amazing, trust me).

You will especially like it if (goes with recommended for):

* Books which end up having quite a fast pace but take a while to go there don't bother you, or you like them (some like that build up, I know).

* You like serious issues being touched upon (ones that mean this book really is a teen read & a bit gritty at that :D)

* You are good at turning pages fast.

* You need more book boyfriends. Be warned: you can't actually have him as a book boyfriend... You'll find out, if you read it (not that you actually date them).

* You devour series like they're going to go out of fashion (slim chance of that, dude).

Reviewing... [46] Flip

Reviewing... [46] Source: Purchased :P Author: Martyn Bedford Recommended for: Physic evacuees (so that's like, all of us, right?) or people who aren't quite as unique... Either goes.

I've never read books or watched films about body switches. Yeah, they exist, but this was actually totally new to me & I really enjoyed 'Flip'. Alex and Philip, the body switchers (I suppose), never met but they had a connection, no- it's not hobbies, it's not a girl, or any personality traits. Chalk & cheese may as well just swap bodies...  Obviously, Alex doesn't like being in a different body, he doesn't like showering in that body, he doesn't like dealing with another guy's life & mainly family. So, he panics. How can he contact his family and friends? Gosh, if only they knew he was Alex inside there. Alex becomes a look actor, he's like a lie generator and he is totally different to how he used to be...  At some points, I was really wondering how it would unfold, at some points I was sure we'd hear from Philip's consciousness or something & others I was like, "It's just not going to happen. This book isn't going to end well" & ya-da-ya-da. It truly confused me & I can tell you, waking up in somebody else's body is totally not a picnic. I do not want to do that, not that it's possible...

I know Alex may have felt confused and all but at some points I thought we discovered things too randomly. For example, "Alex" gets dropped from the Rugby Team but we only find this out ages after he must've been kicked. He tries to reinvent himself & isn't that thoughtful to what a mess he is making of a life, a family & much more. *spoiler* Seriously, if you thought another guy was going to have to return to his life when/if you switch back, why would you actually leave him a catastrophe? *spoiler ended* Luckily, although this book has a fair amount of suspense, it's not all suspense- it wouldn't allow you to think deeper about the book and the characters if it was non-stop action. There was action but you do get thinking space & for this novel, I appreciate that. The moral side of things means this is much more than just a "paranormal" novel.  Overall, I enjoyed Flip. It was fun, engaging & confusing (if you were judging by the book's- UK- cover you'd probably guess that. The way you can SO easily hold it upside down if you aren't 100% concentrating is just so irritating. I did it about a million times; in English several of my classmates picked it up & were getting confused also! I was like, "not just me then...") 
Cover aside (even if Flip is similar to the cover we still won't rate it based on the cover, that's too judgey!):

Amy Bookworm (@Amy_Bookworm) rated this book: 

Do you think you'll read it? Have you read/watched anything with body switches (and do they sound similar? I hope not! If so, I'm just inexperienced :L)

Reviewing... [45] She Is Not Invisible

Reviewing... [45]
Recommended for: Literally anyone who likes YA books which easily discuss a more mature topic (it still seems very YA though!)
Author: Marcus Sedgwick
Source: Received for review cos of some fiercely epic publicists! 

Just a book that is so thought-provoking and mature that it becomes "loveable". I'm not using that term condescendingly & I'm sure Laureth would understand if I called her that, or sweet. There are many words that describe this young woman who is brave, visually impaired & who has one of the strong personalities we would all love to have but which only come from experience. We discover that, of course, she's victim to some prejudice. It's becoming a more common form in fiction & this stance- on how people like Laureth might try and hide their "blindness" as they know they'll be judged- is amazing & unique. Books about discrimination or intolerance of any form often are really eye-opening. Pun, noted? (Sorry! It was appropriate for this book...)

Don't be like that. You got the joke (sorry, I didn't laugh either but... still!) and you'll get this book. You don't have to have been blind to get it. Marcus Sedgwick wasn't blind. It took research but it's explained well. This latest novel (by Marcus Sedgwick, not of all the books EVER) isn't the most startling... but it's a 1-in-all-the-books-EVER. All those elements... just GAH. Perfect: many elements of a fantastic novel which most people will recommend make up this novel. I'm one of them, shouting: READ IT. UNDERSTAND IT. LOVE IT. Why should you read this? 

There's a quirk to 'She Is Not Invisible' that I can't quite put my fingers on. It may be the characters, I've already mentioned Laureth but I appreciated the cast. From Benjamin to the equally strange young person who inspired Laureth on her hunt for her father. It all started with a notebook. It seems really unbelievable but it's an important book which is part of a much more important, now published by Indigo (which you should now go and read), book about... coincidence. How the things tied in, Sedgwick is literally a genius (and I can believe he struggled, like Peak did, with writing about certain things!). This book just ends up tying up all the loose ends but somehow, it still left with me things to think about.

There's Benjamin (and Stan, I suppose). An endearing kid who is literally Laureth's "eyes". In some ways, he looks after her but also she has to look after him. It's strange being in New York for anyone but these two? How they actually manage to spend time NOT walking around like a headless chicken is interesting. They do have a sense of place though & a mission... A mission which means you don't just stand their gobsmacked. They don't have the option to just get back on the next plane to England (they could, but obviously they don't! Duh!) There's plenty to think about just in that... So, I know, SINI is of great interest to many readers, I'm sure.  It's thoughtful. That's the thing about this book. I won't lie, it's not the most intense book. Books don't need to be action-packed; they can still have some punches. There's an adventure which is hard and has to be done by young people. Alone. They're saving an adult and this will engage many. The family relationship is interesting, from the first chapter. Mrs Peak, what a poor mother! I tell you, if someone suggested I do that to either of my parents I'd think they were insane. But it works for them. How, especially, can they do it when Laureth, the oldest, is blind & essentially relying on her brother who she's almost kidnapped? Technology keeps breaking & it's intense as they got lost. At some points it's almost like they're not going to achieve what they set out to do. How can they? I'm pleased with the revelations; there was real character & story development in good measures. Perfect (pretend I haven't said that already, it's just the word I think suits it).

(OK, I kinda lied, but I don't know why)

Amy Bookworm (@Amy_Bookworm) rated this book: 

You will find out if you read it. I really think you should :D

Not Pretty Enough

Page 99 Test (for reference Not Pretty Enough here, my fourth Page 99 Test). 

I assume you saw that post & know about my verdict on the 99th page of this book...

Reviewing... [44]Author: Jaimie Admans (as I've remembered to you, we are buds*) Source: Review copy for tour*

*does not affect my opinions.

Recommended for: Not Pretty Enough is a contemporary YA comedy suitable for ages 13+

So, yes... Jaimie returns again! You know Jaimie... Just a recap of the bare bones of one Welsh author who has written another stunning YA! : Jaimie is a 28-year-old English-sounding Welsh girl with an awkward-to-spell name. She lives in South Wales and enjoys writing, gardening, drinking tea and watching horror movies. She hates spiders and cheese & onion crisps. She has been writing for years but has never before plucked up the courage to tell people. Afterlife Academy is her third novel and she hopes you enjoy it. There are plenty more on the way!

What was my verdict from page 99 before?    A light dusting of humour there, some good character introduction and things to read the book for the whole picture. Oh and, Chessie, sometimes a hot guy needs his ego crushing. Atta girl. I asked you... "What do you think? Has it intrigued? Caused a LOL perchance? Primark or Prada?"

And after?

I still need to read about a quarter more of the book (around 50 pages!)
There is a real sense of character development, most definitely. Obviously, Chessie was a klutz then & her mistakes continue, going from bad to worse- sometimes her mistakes are forgiveable. Her Mum isn't a total dragon just not a money-making machine, I understand the Primark thing now. Chessie, being the teen chick she is, obviously loves a range of stores- H&M when she has the money! Snap! Chessie hasn't turned from slight idiot to genius but really, that'd be taking the fun out of the story. I loved the humour; it had me in fits of REAL laughter at certain points. Thank goodness I don't take my kindle to English lessons (a curse for a reader that we can't sometimes) or I would have half the dignity I used to...
I’m glad at least it made her a bit more extroverted. Let the girl out of wallflower kingdom & make her into one of those girls you actually cannot fail to notice!
She doesn't do enough to annoy Lloyd on purpose... He deserves the annoyance, but not all the attention. Sure, he turns out to be slightly above average so her taste isn’t entirely skewed- he likes campaigning for a certain charity you’ll find out about- yet is genuinely not a guy I’d obsess over that much. I can’t imagine him equalling book boyfriend material; he’s more like the boys I know, or a mix of them. Lloyd is, plainly put, tall, rich, a bit up himself and has very little in common with Chessie. Why does she like him despite all his flaws I won’t go into?
She just decided to get him to notice her. When that’s just achieved- and the antics all played out (thankfully not involving streaking- the blurb didn’t let you in all that)- she’s still not happy; in fact it’s fair to say, “talk about obsessed!”. It's a laughing matter and a frustrating matter. Can't she just accept that people like her friends Ewan & Debs are right? There's nothing special about Lloyd.
Well, it wouldn’t have been half as funny if she’d played hard to get so maybe I get it. Somewhere, it makes sense. I know it happens in real life. I know this has been written about as a whole text of hyperbole, romance (*cough* attempts at it which Chessie really should not recommend *cough*) & laughter! It is ideal for many teenage girls... Forget teenage, I think anybody with a smidgen of girliness would love this. You end up forgetting that actually she’s too ridiculous, she is making bad decisions and start putting yourself in her shoes (that’s the main thing so I can’t really complain). They aren’t the worse decisions but I’m glad I’ve never had to go through such, utter humiliation! I’d die with red cheeks. Well, he knows who he is. Not sure they’re the best ways to be remembered, it all amounts to something along the lines of “Crazy stalker girl”. Will it work out in the end? How many times can Chessie brush herself off after a disaster only to mess up in another way?
Maybe I should have been a bit more awkward in Year 9? Too late. I didn’t want to be an awkward fourteen year old? Do I have to be an awkward anything-teen? You may not understand how she can just laugh at herself so often in good fun but I hope you’ll still find her as likeable as I did :P
I hope you enjoy Admans writing- it always get the point across & I admire how she can write such funny stuff. I hope Chessie continues to be a joy to write and continues to develop to more mature measures for Book 2.

(Remember, I do say this while still reading! Awkward way to review I know, but I bet the book will still be EPIC).

Not Pretty Enough is awaiting a rating but you will notice I'm still saying I'm enjoying it & the blog tour is giving away Not Pretty Enough... Enter if you like:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks,
Amy Bookworm x

Reviewing... [43] Cruel Summer

Reviewing... [43] Source: Recieved for review, thanks Indigo! Author: James Dawson  Recommended for: *sobs and wishes for some machine to duplicate it so she can have unlimited copies to shove at people*

Words are supposed to be powerful, aren't they? Wow. They bloody are. As James correctly said, it's all about the feels. There's nicer feelings, obviously, but certain feelings aren't really going to leave such a... mark. I've never read anything that could be compared to Cruel Summer. There's obviously books which may share a smidgen with Cruel Summer but really... there aren't books like this published frequently. This book will make your jaw drop; it will then precede to hang there for a few minutes & just when your jaw has returned to its normal position, it's going to drop again. Literally. The pace... it's... like it must have been so much fun, even though it's kinda serious. Thrillers, a kick for authors too. My suspicions danced around like crazy fireflies or something, who killed who? I did guess the circumstances around Janey's death but was so confused by other factors I literally considered so many possibilities. None of them had it all cracked. You may guess the killer but... you won't have cracked the mystery entirely. There is no way anyone could get within even a mile of predicting the ending. Admittedly, I didn't expect the characters to be quite as old as they were- all around 19- but it did help that in "TV & movie land" I'm fairly used to those ages being surrounded by a suitable story for people not at that age yet. In fiction, there's that whole NA palaver and I'm so glad this was YA. It might be enjoyed by NA's but anyway... The characters were just so, so fantastic. You have jock with bad girl twin and new girl, good girls buddying up with a character and a half and of course... my personal favourite, the hot geek (forget coke, I'll take you up on that lukewarm Dr Pepper)- literally categorized like that by Ryan, one of the characters taking centre stage. If I'm honest, I preferred Alisha's excerpts as they were much more down to earth. The book still had its 'pretend it's TV' theme but she wasn't comparing her life to anything else- she was just realizing that it was happening around her. Ryan, on the other hand, converted everything to TV and early on, he even made everything sounded scripted (Scene 1 especially!). I didn't really like that- a book is a different medium. It can have similarities but it's annoying. In books, characters don't convert their lives to books- nobody converts their life to a book :P So, movies? It's slightly annoying, but maybe not for everyone, at the end of the day. It's more the concept than how it was done. The writing is just amazing!

If they burst into song, Kurt would probably think it was a musical...

You'd think it would be more cliched than it was, though. The concepts should be unoriginal at some points but someone they managed to seem refreshing & new. Obviously, these things you will know are so NOT going to happen to you, but you will be left thinking. It was more realistic than I thought it could be- I cried at one point. Real tears.

Reviewing... [42] Not Of Our Sky

So, who likes this series? It has sounded great since day 1 to me. It's kind of well known that after reading Sky Song, Sharon went from being this novel thing, and it seemed a weird concept I didn't know of, just an indie author trying to get her books read (and I was like, I've got to help really... I'm sure I'll like it!) to actually being, "LIKE? I did not just like that. It was a great book!" (not a quote from the Sky Song review, just a short wrap-up) & Sharon became an author I would adore, whose books I would want to read... I'd just wait until the TBR was manageable or until I'd almost ran out of patience of waiting, so Young Moon got read & now Not Of Our Sky.

Reviewing... [42] Rating: 5 out of 5; it was (sooooo) amazing! Recommended for: Oh, just bloody well read the first books please & you'll know why Not Of Our Sky is good? If you haven't read them, I have reviews for them- just click on Sharon's label below (on blog). (incase you're unsure/blind/not the brightest spark- please don't take that too seriously-) Author: Sharon Sant Source: Believe me, this one I actually bought (ha Sharon! I said I would, getting the whole series for free is greedy & whatnot).

It was not a disappointment. Duh, it was a last book but it lived up to every expectation I had, met wish after wish & turned out absolutely stunning. It just fits with the series so much & I love how they've flowed and the series has now been wrapped up. I can't argue with that ending, Sharon just so happens to be a genius.
That's not too kind, but Sharon needs to answer me this- Where did you learn to plunge a knife into a reader's heart so effectively? When did you learn how to take the step from annoying to actually torturing? WHY? Just, why? Some characters deserved things which happened to them, others... Such cruel happenings for some young, innocent souls (and no, I'm not just talking about our golden trio).
It's what makes a good book, you say. Reading novels full of suspense is... lovely. No, exhilarating, exhausting & sometimes stressful. You get to the point where you're so consumed by a character's story that the pages seem to turn themselves! Ellen, especially, had my heart in her hand straight from the start. She's obviously been one of the main characters in the book. If I had to pick 4, she'd be one of them. How I adore her, even when she's not exactly as I remembered her. She seemed to rely more on Jacob as he faced a battle that even Ellen found hard to comprehend, she most certainly joined everyone else, human or not, in sitting around waiting & not being able to help. This was the most boring part: the first quarter or so was slower-paced than the rest, or its previous book- Young Moon. For good reason, it laid the foundation & made sure the reader knew what was going on (as if I could have forgotten! Anyone recall, or know of, the cliffhanger in Young Moon?)
I loved how focal the prophecy became & how characters which have taken a back-seat, even Makash (who you should call Maka-Paka to annoy him... Or would it be lost on him? It still sounds condescending, right?) were developed more & their motives, plus much more, explored. We kept learning about him & boy, I hate him. How could a Successor like him? He's manipulative & could be your poster villain... Just stick on fangs & you're good to go!

^ When Makash opens his mouth, and sometimes it applies to Alex too...

I'm not sorry for those GIFs. Feel the evil! You will if you read so much a page of Makash...
You may also feel like laughing in this book, you never know if this is true... ‘Yes, Luca, your hair is sculpted by the gods themselves.’
‘Perhaps I come from a special race of beings with fantastic hair…’
Why, of course. It explains everything!

Please don't read on if you haven't read the other books:
Alex is snappy & kick-ass sometimes, I don't always scream at her when she appears to zip her lips (if you know her I think you may get this entirely), "Forgive me, but there wasn’t a local Watcher school in downtown LA where I could brush up my skills."
Oh, how strange. And brilliant. The sarcasm embraces me & I adore it all. So much of this book was so well written I was like, "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!"

Jacob didn't know *high fives*... So, I spoke of the build-up & I should explain. When a young Watcher's body is in storage he has no idea what is happening- all the action surrounding him, both planets which are in his normal awareness etc. he is completely blind to- he has to get his powers back, you see. I won't lie, it's a slow wait & it seems a long time (suppose that's realistic) until anything starts happening & he shows readers he has hope & yes, he's really unlikely to die now. Sure, people want him dead but he's so vulnerable. Hero, he has been but in this book one could almost forget what a major character he is & that he started all of this. There was so much worldbuilding even though he was on Earth, Ellen was on Earth & Luca was (probably) busy trying to fight off his almost-out-of-this-world sisters & their demands...
I felt I already knew Luca quite well from his US trip but then, he shared the book with Jacob. This isn't Luca's book though- it's Ellen's. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do & in this case it's stealing the spotlight & having a book written about you. Did I mention I love Ellen?
She's like Hermoine but dare I say, better? If I'm not allowed that comment I'll just say a) Ellen probably doesn't mind end of the year exams being cancelled b) (book quote) 'Little-Miss-Cant-Be-Wrong.   Doesn’t it get tiring being smart about everything?’
‘Nope.’
Exactly.
The amazing sharing of character's perspectives being delved into, overall throughout the series, is unique & I highly recommend Not Of Our Sky. Well, I recommend all of them but I trust you heeded my warning & didn't read up to here without reading Sky Song & Young Moon first, right?
Not Of Our Sky is the BEST of the trilogy so pick it up. Got that?

Good. Now go have a good day & all that...

Reviewing... [41] Out of the Darkness

Reviewing... [41] Source: Purchased Author: Nigel Hinton Recommended for: It sounds odd but thinkers. Not just people that can think but people that like to think or think so deeply naturally. If you've ever thought about how science & things like religion go together, read this.

Despite my recommendation, this isn't really a book about religion. It's more than that- although Lelia definitely has a faith & this affects her actions (which is interesting to see but can I point how bored I am that I've only ever seen one YA regarding a christian just y'know... doing anything fictional, like Lelia?). It is interesting to see the mix of her serene attitude as she trusts in a "greater power" as Liam struggles to find peace at all & understand the implications of what Lelia says & the fact, at least a little, seems to have some truth to it. Lelia is a special girl, who has been treasured & has huge burdens. She copes with the burdens as she is still clearly cared for and appreciated for the lovely daughter she is to the Khan's. Liam has burdens but being around Lelia he realizes that some burdens & troubles are part of a plan, to be accepted & are good to have. Lelia is at peace with her path & the many troubles- she looks to the future. I get the feeling that Liam is not the only one weighted by his path. Lelia knows it too (she knows a lot, a bit of a Mary Sue but she's got reasons to be that way & isn't actually the one with the biggest destiny) & so do we.
I consider it probably the right amount of lead up to the main plot (make up your own mind, it's 25% of the book & definitely pretty gripping even though it's nothing compared to the other 3/4)- which occurs probably a year after we hear the contrast of their thirteen birthdays- but we come to understand way more about Liam & how he developed. I don't get the full picture of Lelia accept she's travelling because she's in danger. I came to pity her more when the story opened up & she met the boy whose life was entwined with hers- you guessed it- he's called Liam.
I felt so sorry for Liam almost non-stop. It didn't stop, even when the worst was over (that quarter is just torture to read if you're an empathetic reader, but it's a torture I appreciated & had to put myself through cos there was something rewarding about it, I also knew I'd see the light soon- aka. Lelia).
I don't know how I feel about there being such an obvious contrast between a light & dark character. Obviously, as the title may hint at, Liam came out of his "darkness" (not self-inflicted so he's not 1D/2D or anything) but really... Lelia didn't have far to go. She relied on Liam a lot and was a lot less 3D, or should I use a more traditional term, dynamic than Liam. Therefore, I love Liam more.
He made me want to cry, laugh, sob dramatically, smile, cry tears of joy and tears of... WWWWWWHHHHHYYYY?

I probably looked a bit like this:

(Nope, don't know who I've got a GIF of this time either...)

Well, if feeling sorry for Liam wasn't an occurence all the time I was never going to feel like I was on the same wavelength as Lelia. There were points I could've felt sorry for her but I just hadn't reached out to her, I felt sorry for Liam when there was reason to & sometimes he was upset because Lelia was, or something to do with Lelia. I completely gave my sympathy to Liam even though I knew most would, or should, be like 'Poor Lelia' instead. Tough. Liam turned out to be the one, who while miles apart- a gender & lifestyle apart- from me seemed more relate-able than his soulmate who seemed to use him. She used him, they didn't fit each other but they had a connection & he was the one that really showed that he was 'manning up' even though he hadn't yet touched adulthood by law. That's just so sad.
They both had to grow up so early & as only 14/15 year olds it's heartbreaking, and weird, how they take a journey across continents- traversing various countries in Europe first (the scope of different places & cultures is an amazing feature & this happens to be one of the books I've seen this best executed in), shortly into the main story... But it's believable. As a teenager, I related to their actions & the plot was pretty great. Lelia shares very little with me, but a gender at least, and she seemed a nice character. One that was created to like & give Liam things to think about, she was a better character than I've previously suggested. But she didn't seem the same age as Liam & I think that's why I pitied Liam. He was more of a victim & a character the reader has to focus on. Simply put, he's not just likeable. He's a lot more- flawed but forgiving, confused but determined.
The novel is often intense, there's a clear sign of right & wrong (but still sometimes quite grim reading). It's totally suitable for YA's & I do recommend it!... Shame the kindle edition went from 99p, when I bought it, to another £4* on top! I'm not sure if you'd buy it for that (I probably wouldn't) but I suggest that you keep an eye out in case you see it on a bargain or in a library.
Hope you liked this review!

((*It looks like older paperback editions can be bought for less than £3... I bet you'd prefer that! Check it out here at Amazon))

Amy Bookworm rated Out of the Darkness:

...and I wish you a good day! May 4*s be with you, and find you...

Reviewing... [40] Red Rock (ARC)

Red Rock, reviewed as an ARC!

Reviewing... [40] Source: Received for review. Thanks Curious Fox... Publisher: Raintree - Curious Fox Publication Date: September 12th 2013 Paperback - 221 pages Genre: Young Adult Sci-Fi Author: Kate Kelly Rating: 4.5 out of 5; I really liked it. Recommended for: "roadtrip" fans, it's really got those elements clear & also, if you ask me, UKYA-ness is clear too!

I'm grateful for this opportunity but it hasn't altered my opinion in any way; I just truly believe this is a 4.5 book (in other words an amazing one). The sense of place, particularly, is outstanding. I feel like this book has such strong elements of this that, in fact, it could have been written to show people that there are very interesting places outside of America. There's so many places in England mentioned, Greenland and as it says Malta, sinister monasteries et al. I was so interested by it all, whether (like on page 82) I knew the places that were travelled (oh yeah, I know East Anglia, Cambridge is one of them!) or I was completely unaware of a place's appearance outside of the description given in this book.
So many scenes were done really effectively because of the surroundings, the ice caps & Danni's lack of phone signal. We emerged there in just the third chapter after so much action has already taken place. Danni has lost another relative, besides her parents, and is distraught when following her Aunt's death she has a huge burden. It involves a red rock, Mars Exploration Agency (MEXA) & seemingly, many of her family. It's a huge burden for Danni & it sounds mean, but I loved reading about how she dealt with it. This book was just awesomeness contained inside 221 pages & you will love the scientific elements, the very realistic contemporary elements & just, I hope, everything. No pressure to enjoy it as much as me or anything ;)
The characters were of course, very intriguing. From the confident Gracie, awe-struck Danni to her living Uncle, Robert, whose job is much more than archaeology. One of the worst things for Danni is lack of contact with Issac & he was definitely in the background for most of the book- even when he begun to surface I still don't feel we got to know him- not as much as Danni would know him. All she knows is, well, there's something more intense between them now.
In my opinion, it wasn't worth saying it was intense when everything else was too, Gracie & Danni were proper intense together, MEXA just might be a smidgen intense & frankly the plot? It's not slow-paced, that's for sure. If I've ever read a book that is easy to get into & then read through rapidly it's Red Rock, which is Kate Kelly's debut. Curious Fox once again managed to snap an author that has had writing talent from page 1 of their debut novel (or published one, at least).
What makes this book different though, you ask? When something seemed convenient there were consequences. That's not exactly a spoiler, don't worry, it's just the lay of the land (or book, rather). I love seeing this, it shows me that actually the book hasn't dissolved into fictional pulp. It adds realism knowing that actually- all is not as it seems, the reader doesn't know everything & there's no telling what will happen next... That's all I can say!
The only bit that was unrealistic, at least a tad even now, was Danni & Gracie's relationship. That was definitely different to what I thought but there quick friendship was later explained, yet still- didn't they seem a bit too close? It sounds odd but I was almost expecting them to start kissing even if there was no hint of their sexuality- it's not that type of book (it'd be interesting if it was, I mean it involves the global warming issue one, why not add some very human internal ones?).
You should definitely pick up Red Rock, if you hadn't guessed I'm totally for this book & am excited to see what happens when it goes out into the big, wide world...

(Just to tease you even more as part of my SRS Challenge I wrote this & even while I was reading I decided to write more... What can I say? I'm weird.)

Have a great day all!

Amy Bookworm (@Amy_Bookworm) rated this book: 

Reviewing... [39] Disconnect

Ooh, I like the author note that says about reviewing it... Book bloggers do that anyway but well... I was asked to give feedback, whether I liked it or not (after I'd picked it up of my own accord & told the author :P) so... TA-DA! Massive shocker, a review :O How dare I post one of those? What even are reviews?! (OK, enough of the sarcasm...)

Reviewing... [39] Source: At the time, the whole of Disconnect was free on Goodreads, no strings attached. Author: Imran Siddiq  Recommended for: Strong Sci-Fi & Post-Apocalyptic fans, I don't think just being a dystopia fan will mean you'll love it, but you're welcome to try as you'll at least like it I reckon. If you like chick-flick (that kinda romance, not the kind that doesn't matter as much as survival) don't insult this book by reading it... Just sayin'.

Firstly, admittedly, there was nothing particularly wrong with the pacing but I don’t think it was fast. Disconnect was a slow burner for a little while. There, I said it. Luckily I was just about enjoying it a third of the way through; I didn’t want to experience my first DNF (I think) this year... I mean, there’s nothing wrong with that but luckily Disconnect improved. It reached above that “Meh, am I really satisfied?” and actually jumped up a whole star, or maybe more like 1.5*!
I liked how eventually you realized the stakes were high but really... you don’t picture how bad until certain twists arrive... My balance was seriously seeming unstable at certain points. I loved this sense of adventure & was like, “YES! I CONTINUED. How could I not have enjoyed this?” So yeah, it improves steadily & if it does that, there are hopes for the sequel. But, I’m not sure I will read it... I have so much to read & this honestly sounded better than it was... It’s my fault for putting weight on so many books!? I'd be happy to take sequels but not to read straight away (also cos a. I don't have the time as I literally have too many books which are a priority first b. the cliffhanger didn't kill me, YAY!).

I know it sounds bad, lame etc. but after that I’m trying to think about the non-likes, I can think of more likes but can I come back to them once I've nailed down why this just wasn't a hit for me?... At some points I just was exhausted with the book and didn't want to read another page. Was it really that awful? Well, no. THERE WAS A ROSA THOUGH. Yeah... I'm going to talk about typical names. Hypothetically. This is a review, but imagine me rambling about that. I'm not going to rant (rejoice, you're saved!) because their was creativity... It was just used up in other areas. I believe Rosa is blonde; just a statement I hope you will understand better in a second (I know it's a common hair colour but actually in fiction there are so many blondes & gingers... I've met more brunettes/black-haired people than those IRL... realistic? NO!)
She annoyed me until well... I’ll be vague and say, A THING happened. When you get to it you’ll know, I hope. How was she?... Oh, there’s a reason a reason she seems like a Mary Sue. *shudders* Rosa would be bad as a protagonist, I believe. She'd probably whine & remember, although bad things happened, she should've been portrayed as the lucky one...

She is like that for a reason, I suppose. Some people are just that annoying; it's worse when those people who are really lucky but moan & stuff are real... She had troubles but it always struck me how they might just be there so both her & Zach had a reason to need each other & come to like each other (it was fairly slow which is good & realistic when they meet very few times face-to-face). She gets stronger & develops. As does the amazing Zach, who copes well will things, but not too well. He cries, and has boy-tantrums... He has an android as his friend and is generally too good for Rosa in my opinion. Zach is also one of the most realistic guys I’ve read about. He seemed so... down to earth? Sure, he was impulsive & not the most likeable but for once I felt like I liked a fictional guy... for some other reason than a description of looks. Although he was likeable, very few people liked him properly. It's easy to feel sorry for him & the relationship with Rosa was convenient... Or was it? It's not when everyone thinks there shouldn't be one & thinks she's too good for him (as you know, I think... WRONG!). Seriously, are we supposed to side with that girl? He’s that lower class kid, known as an underworlder literally in this futuristic novel. I am in awe of how the politics has been entwined without taking over the story...
It's not really political but the last thing I wanted to come back to was about was "multicultural characters". It was soft but Imran did it, perhaps not coming from a typical white, conservative (don’t mean in ‘voting’ way) family but even so- I loved just the subtle differences. These characters weren’t all white. Does Bhavini, just the name, seem like a typical white girl to you or maybe someone with darker skin? I don’t care what shade but she was not your typical ‘Mary’, ‘Amy’ (not afraid to use my name as an example, I’m also featured in Maths, Science or whatever papers a lot! Look out for me & my algebra-related pineapples!) or ‘Rose’. Yes, I had to take a stab at the name Rose. I like it, but it seems very western, I don't know why. I just picked a flower name maybe as well? ;)

Amy Bookworm (@Amy_Bookworm) rated this book: