Blog Tour When Shadows Fall by Sita Brahmachari Illustrations by Natalie Sirett

 Blog Tour 

When Shadows Fall 

by

 Sita Brahmachari

 Illustrations by Natalie Sirett

Publisher Little Tiger Press  

When Shadows Fall is a timely, lyrical and impactful story of disaffected youth and the vulnerability of teenage years, the importance of friendship, care and community and of urban green spaces. An empathetic and inspirational tour de force that seamlessly combines art, verse and prose  to portray a powerful message and story. 

I was delighted to be invited on this Fabulous Blog Tour for this wonderful book. Below is this fascinating Interview with Sita talking about  the importance of Art which is an integral part of her story.

Do you think art has the power to heal?
Yes. I have always felt that since childhood. As a member of the refugee centre art and writing class said once 'Art is a good way to tell, a good way to express.' Art can transport and reconnect you to many emotions including awe hope and joy.

Can art give a more powerful message than writing in certain circumstances? Eg Guernica by Picasso "A picture is worth a thousand words
Omid expresses in art what he cannot yet speak in words in the English Language ... but in many ways what he cannot express in any language. He sees in pictures.  A visual, symbolic language appears to me before I write... later the words come. I suppose this is true of being human... we begin with the image and grow into language. It is a struggle to express in words... you see this in Kai's writing. He has many questions and asides, his mind is always in motion. In art the mind can still and settle.  In this story when Kai's world fractures and he can only piece together a few ideas in words Omid fills the gaps with his pictures and imagination. He could not have given Kai a better gift than his art. Natalie Sirett could not have given this story a greater gift either.

 
Can you discuss the refugee element connected to the art in the story?

Both myself and Natalie have worked with refugee survivor children and families in our work. Natalie as a teacher and myself as Writer in Residence at Islington Centre, and in a mentor role. At the centre I have worked with illustrator Jane Ray for over a decade and we are now joined by Ros Asquith.

From the start we held the writing element of our work in the Art and Writing Room  in communal poetry. Now members are writing their own poems and having their art shown in exhibitions.

You can support the centre with their Christmas cards which are available to buy from this online link: Islington Centre Christmas Cards (charitycardsonline.com) 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Kai, Orla and Zak grew up together, their days spent on the patch of wilderness in between their homes, a small green space in a sprawling grey city. Music, laughter and friendship bind them together and they have big plans for their future – until Kai's family suffers a huge loss.
Trying to cope with his own grief, as well as watching it tear his family apart, Kai is drawn into a new and more dangerous crowd, until his dreams for the future are a distant memory. Excluded from school and retreating from his loved ones, it seems as though his path is set, his story foretold. Orla, Zak and new classmate Om are determined to help him find his way back. But are they too late? 

“How quickly teenagers fall apart – and how fast they can heal. This is the hopeful message from Sita Brahmachari, a writer who mixes verse and prose to tell stories that stick.” – Alex O’Connell, The Times

A heart-breaking and poignant novel from award-winning author Sita Brahmachari, for fans of THE BLACK FLAMINGO, AND THE STARS WERE BURNING BRIGHTLY and POET X.

Sita Brahmachari is an award-winning author. She has been nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal five times, won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize in 2011 and has been bestowed with the IBBY Honour. WHERE THE RIVER RUNS GOLD was Waterstones Children's Book of the Month in 2019 and Sita has a World Book Day title in 2021. An ambassador for Amnesty, Sita is passionate about safeguarding human rights and diverse voices being heard, which comes through in her thoughtful and sensitive storytelling. She is based in North London. http://www.sitabrahmachari.com

Natalie Sirett is a multimedia artist with a multi-faceted practice exploring us, our icons, our stories. http://www.sirett.com

Book Review: The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed

 

Book Review The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed Simon & Schuster1992      Four police officers are equited of beating to death a black man called Rodney King. As violence engulfs LA Ashley is trying to focuse on finishing High School but events reveal uncomfortable and hidden truths about the realities of being black even in a protected wealthy environment. This multi-layered story interweaves the rights of passage as a teenager combined with the hurdles about race and class that have to be navigated by people of colour. It is a fascinating and different perspective of real life events seen through the eyes of a fictional teenage girl. A bittersweet journey of self identity and what it means to be black. You are immediately drawn into LA life and the eclectic and engaging group of characters while questioning your own journey through life and seeing events from a different perspective. A gripping and empathetic read that would be excellent for group discussion as it raises many current and ongoing issues as well as being an enjoyable holiday read. 

SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW April 11-12 2020

This week my children's book reviews include for Easter a spookily good middle grade adventure about a young witch, a picture book full of rabbits about appreciating family, a charming seaside adventure for young readers and a timeless romantic coming-of-age drama.

BOOK OF THE WEEK

WILDE BY ELOISE WILLIAMS

CHILDREN 9+

Wilde is forced to live with her aunt in Witch Point and start a new school. She is desperate to fit in but strange things keep happening. Why do birds follow her? How is the legend of the witch called Winter connected to her family? Who is threatening the pupils with curses? Children will love the rebellious Wilde and her quest to find her place in the world. A spookily good adventure that will hold children spellbound. Bewitching.

Firefly PB £6.99

RABBIT! RABBIT! RABBIT! BY LORNA SCOBIE

PICTURE BOOK 3+

Rabbit loves being the only child in the family. But Rabbit's parents have a BIG surpise. Home is going to become a lot more crowded! Maybe their neighbourly fox can help? An hilarious tale about learning to appreciate your family even at it's most chaotic. It's bouncing with energetic and colourful illustrations that children will delight in. Perfect for a time when we need to appreciate each other even if living in close quarters! Adorable for Easter.

Scholastic PB £6.99

A SEA OF STORIES BY SYLVIA BISHOP & PADDY DONNELLY

CHILDREN 5+

Roo loves visiting Grandpa in his cottage next to the sea. But the beach has become too difficult for him to visit any more. Instead, he tells Roo stories of finding treasure and exciting sea rescues. Can Roo help her Grandpa visit his favourite cove again? A gloriously illustrated hardback book for early readers and bedtime. It demonstrates the importance of close relationships between family and how storytelling can be an inspiration. A little gem.

Stripes HB £7.99

HELLO NOW By JENNY VALENTINE

YOUNG ADULT 12+

Jude moves to the seaside with her mum is dumped by another boyfriend. Novo appears like a comet out of nowhere and changes everything for Jude. Love and destiny bound up in time. But will it pull them apart or keep them together? An epic romance that reads like a modern-day fable. The poetic love story shows the importance of living in the moment. Lose yourself in its embrace. Entrancing.

Harper Collins PB £7.99

Interview with Katy Cannon, Author of And Then We Ran

My interview with the author Katy Cannon, author of  And Then We Ran.

A road-trip story about following your dreams and embracing the unexpected.

Out now with Stripes Publishing.

Where did your idea for two teens eloping come from?

This book was unusual in that I woke up one morning with the idea right there in my head - so I have no idea where the initial spark came from! But once it was there, I knew it was something I definitely wanted to write, and I knew that I wanted the main characters to be friends, not in a relationship, when they decided to do it. Which meant I had to do a lot of thinking to figure out why they’d do such a thing!

What's your favourite part of the book?

I love the scene with Megan and Elliott in the caravan, I have to admit. But my absolute favourite part might have to be the text message based flirting between Megan’s best friend, Becca, and Elliott’s brother, Sean! Stripes have done a fab job in presenting those parts of the text so they look like real messages, and I just love looking at them. 

Do you empathise with Elliot or Megan more?

Probably Elliott. Megan is far wilder, more impulsive and more confident than I’ve ever been! Whereas Elliott, dreaming of a future he knows he can’t have - until Megan suddenly gives him hope again - feels a lot more like I did when I was younger, dreaming of being a writer but not believing it was possible. 

Why did you base it in Wales? What part of Wales inspired you?

I grew up in North Wales, but I’ve spent a lot of summers (and springs, and summers, and winters, actually) in South Wales on holiday - mostly in Pembrokeshire, where the book is partially set. It’s an area I know well, and I loved the idea of writing about a seaside tourist town in the off season, when it’s just the locals there. Plus I know how difficult it can be to get in and out of the area! I’ve spent hours stuck behind a tractor on the winding roads through the Brecon Beacons, or in miles of holiday traffic trying to get into Pembrokeshire from the East. I knew I wanted to write a road trip story, but there really isn’t an awful lot of Britain to road trip through - you can drive from end to end in a day if you really wanted to. But getting from Pembrokeshire to Gretna Green is difficult enough for Megan and Elliott to get into some real trouble on their journey... 

What are your fondest memories of growing up in Wales?

Mostly being with my large and extended family. We have a lot of family get togethers with singing and great food. 

Also, a lot of holidays on the Welsh coastline, in caravans and cottages mostly. I love the Welsh seaside, and visiting the castles, hills and villages of the country. I’m just fascinated by its history and mythology. Also the language - learning Welsh at the age of nine, when we moved home to Wales, was a revelation! I’m trying to brush up on my Welsh now, actually, as my daughter has decided that she wants to learn to speak it, too. 

Why did you want to become a writer and has anything surprised you about being a professional writer that you didn't expect?

I’ve always had stories in my head, and I’ve always loved books more than almost anything, so being a writer just felt like what I was meant to do. Making stuff up for a living, finding a way to make those stories run in other peoples’ heads as well - it’s the best job ever. What surprised me most, I think, is how many other people are involved! I might write the stories, but that’s just the beginning of the process of getting books into readers’ hands. I couldn’t do it without a fabulous team, from my agent to my editor, to everyone at my publisher, to the booksellers, librarians, book bloggers - and the readers themselves!

What's your favourite quote?

Are you working on your next book and if so can we have a sneaky clue what its about?

I’m just starting work on it this week! So all I can tell you right now is that it will be wildly romantic...

Many thanks to Katy for such a great interview. For more information on Katy and her books visit her website on www.katycannon.com/

The Reading Chair Children's Book Column for South Wales Evening Post Oct 3rd

The Reading Chair Children's Book Column for   South Wales Evening Post Oct 3rd
My pick of childrens books for this week ranging from picture books for toddlers to young adult fiction.

BOOK OF THE WEEK

MISTER CLEGHORN'S SEAL BY JUDITH KERR
Inspired by her father the legendary author of The Tiger Who Came to Tea tells a heartwarming story of Mr Cleghorn who rescues a seal pup called Charlie and takes it home to his flat. A poignant tale full of adventure and mishaps highlighting the special bond we can share with animals. Is there a happy ever after? The audio book is delightfully read by the actor Bill Nighy and has an afterword by Judith Kerr
ISBN: 9780008157302 HB HarperCollins £12.99

5/5 Stars

Picture Book 2+

PLEASE MR PANDA BY STEVE ANTONY

A deceptively simple tale teaching pre schoolers the rewards of good manners as delivered by a deadpan panda. When he offers his friends doughnuts why won't he give them one? Maybe because they won't say the magic word? Will spark discussion and deserves multiple readings. I love Mr Panda's expression's and have felt that way myself when people aren't polite. Your best buy BEFORE Christmas especially for little ones yelling I WANT!

ISBN 9781444916652 PB Hachette Children's Group £6.99

5/5 Stars

Childrens Book 6+

MEET AT THE ARK AT EIGHT! BY ULRICH HUB

This is an unusual and comical retelling for the young of Noah and his ark as seen through the eyes of three penguins! Two of the penguins who have tickets smuggle their friend onto the ark while having all sorts of theological debates but they stick together in the growing crisis. Full of dry wit and clever insights this is one to be shared and enjoyed by both children and adults
ISBN 9781782690870 PB Pushkin Children's Books £6.99
4/5 Stars

Young Adult fiction 13+

FROZEN BY MELISSA DE LA CRUZ AND MICHAEL JOHNSTON

A hybrid book mixing dystopian with fantasy. Think Mad Max meets X Men meets The Wild West! Nat is in Las Vegas hiding her special skills that are hunted and used by the brutal authority. The only way to survive is to find a mythical land called Blue with the help of mercenaries who harbour their own secrets. A unique mix of genres that sets it apart and is suitable for boys and girls.

ISBN 9781408334669 PB Hachette Children's Group £6.99

CLICK HERE FOR FULL REVIEW

4/5 Stars

Meeting Sarah J Maas with ACOTAR

Loved meeting author Sarah J Maas in Cardiff for a book signing of her new fantasy series A Court of Thorns and Roses. She was seriously charming and answered everyone's questions. She also had the most fabulous cat ring on!!

 Can't wait to see what happens in the series.

I asked her how long it took to write this book. She said the plot took about a month then editing about 9 months after that! She is now writing 2 books a year, which her fans will be thrilled about, including me! 

It was interesing to know also that not only did she get inspiration from Beauty and the Beast but also looked to Greek Myth, specifically Hades and Persephone. Is this a clue for the next installment? We will have to wait and see.

Book Review: Talon by Julie Kagawa

Synopsis
Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.

Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.

Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons


My Musings
I loved Kagawa's Iron Fey series and the world she built for them so was seriously looking forward to Talon. This was a new series entering into the world of Dragons. Loved the opening premise of Ember and her brother Dante being put into the world of humans to climatise themselves to the human world. Their world as a proper dragon hidden because of the Order of St George that were dedicated to hunting them. It started well. I like Ember the rebellious young dragon who can't wait for her summer of freedom. But big holes started to pop up. There was no explanation to how these enormous dragons survived apart from as humans. How did they evolve to become humans in disguise? There was lots of technology and military style descriptions. Both sides being trained to fight and lots of descriptions of fight scenes. I s this to appeal to boys and girls? Then there was Garret the soldier from St George who, of course falls for Ember not realising she is the dragon he is supposed to be after. Then there is Cobalt the rogue dragon who wants Ember to escape Talon's clutches before they make her into an assassin hunting her own kind. Guess what he also has feeling for her. Enter the usual formulaic love triangle with good v. bad boy. Sigh. I am not going to lie I found this book a little boring. It does have potential. Ember is a great heroine but the boys are 2 dimensional and there is too much fighting and not enough story, layers, depth.

I just couldn't connect with these characters the way I connected with Iron Fey. It really felt like a rerun of Vampire diaries with Dragons. I will read the second Rogue to give it a chance but this felt rushed and underdeveloped. Very disappointed but will still say give it a chance. Won't blow you away but if you have a  thing for dragons and bad boys might hit the mark for you.

Final thought. It would have done better hitting the childrens market rather than aiming for the YA market. Really felt similarities with the military angle to The Brilliant Changeling series by Steve Feasey. If Kagawa didn't have a few banal sexual references in it (for the sake of it, including swear words) this would have worked better for a younger audience.

I would suggest reading The Iron Fey series by Juliea Kagawa before reading this. I have a review of the last of the series below.
Review of Iron Traitor by Kagawa

Book Review: Heir of Fire by Sarah J Maas

Synopsis

Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien's only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan's Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King's Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan's biggest threat - and his own toughest enemy.

While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love?

This third novel in the Throne of Glass sequence, from New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas, is packed with more heart-stopping action, devastating drama and swoonsome romance, and introduces some fierce new heroines to love and hate. Perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and Game of Thrones.

My Musings

Maas throws her fans a real curve ball when the book starts with Celaena in another country, alone and surrounded by strangers. It is assumed we remember exactly what happened in the last book (read 9 months ago) so we're just to carry on the story with no helpful reminders. Clearly my memory is not that good as I was a little lost especially with such an array of new characters to contend with. If I hadn't loved the last two books so much I may have given up. DON'T DO THAT!

The plot soon falls into place and new and old characters collide. Celaena's current dire situation of being exiled from court with magical powers she can't control is made worse with the introduction of Rowan. The warrior fairy prince whose job is to begrudgingly train Celaena so she can meet her aunt, The Fairy Queen and get some answers about her past. I LOVE Rowan's character and the whole love/hate relationship between them both. Their relationship is brutal and painful. Two warriors who's loathing slowly melts into a true friendship and maybe more. Their journey is spellbinding and heart wrenching and I fervently hope Maas has not put Rowan in there as a red herring, he's just too good a character. But her relationship with Chaol ( who seemed to mope throughout the book) is unresolved while Dorian just continues to grow in stature.

The story becomes more focused while flitting back to Dorian and Chaol who seems to have faded into insignificance and becomes less attractive as opposed to the other new additions like Aedion, Celaena's cousin, definately adding a bit of spice.

An additional story of a group of evil witches focusing on a young witch called Mab peppers the book. I assume that she will be significant to the destiny of Celaena as Maas clearly wants us to know her history but I found it irritating as if I was reading a mini book inside the main story. I skimmed parts just to get back to Celaena and Rowan.

The end of the book finishes on a traumatic knife edge.(NO SPOILERS) Characters are split and their destiny is unknown. I can't wait for the fourth book but hope the Maas takes pity on her readers and gives us a tiny overview or what went before in the beginning of the next after waiting a year for it to come out.

Especiall as Maas is writing a brand new older fantasy series which could mean the gap between books gets even wider. Even though this book started with a bit of a hiccup, it was minor and continues to be an AMAZING and ADDICTIVE series. Role on September for Queen of Shadows.......

If you like this read my book review for Sarah J Maas second book in the series 
Crown of Thornes

Book Review Isla And The Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

Synopsis

Hopeless romantic Isla has had a crush on introspective cartoonist Josh since their first year at the School of America in Paris. And after a chance encounter in Manhattan over the summer, romance might be closer than Isla imagined. But as they begin their senior year back in France, Isla and Josh are forced to confront the challenges every young couple must face, including family drama, uncertainty about their college futures, and the very real possibility of being apart. 

Featuring cameos from fan-favorites Anna, Étienne, Lola, and Cricket, this sweet and sexy story of true love—set against the stunning backdrops of New York City, Paris, and Barcelona—is a swoonworthy conclusion to Stephanie Perkins’s beloved series

My Musings

I started to hear about this series on the grapevine but thought their titles were so silly I ignored them until a friend insisted I read them. She was addicted. Reading the blurb on the back with the glamour, the cities and the art certainly appealed so I thought why not?

The characters are very appealing and have a chemistry I don't think I remember this strong since Twilight. Its stirs personal memories or dreams of that elusive bad boy you never got but of course this is a book and has a Happily Ever After.

Isla is in a private school in Paris on the periphery of the cool set. Best friends with a high functioning autistic boy who she subconsciously uses as an emotional crutch while pining after the bad boy boy artist Josh.

After an hilarious first meeting which appeals to anyone who has had a cringing experience whilst desperately trying to impress they waft in and out of each others lives until they finally connect.

Sparks fly and the chemistry crackles. Perkins really knows how to capture the moment of the first kiss, the first spark of passion. You are transported to an idyllic moment that we all wish we'd had. A Secret balcony looking out over Paris. A gorgeous boy secretly drawing you. The heart break of trying to keep someone or let them go. The universal question of who we are and what do we want to do with our lives is also touched on. A mix of questions and dreams we have all had.

This is a very romantic, clever and potent read dripping in glamour with a dollop of angst to keep things spicy. You want to be there and you want to experience their love . I started with this book which is the last of a trilogy so now I will have to take the inevitable 'I told you so' from my friend and persuade her to lend me the first one!

If you like this you might like
Anna and The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales
Between The Devil and The Deep Blue Sea by April G. Tucholke

Book Review Frozen by Melissa De La Cruz and Michael Johnston

Synopsis

From New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston comes this remarkable first book in a spellbinding new series about the dawn of a new kind of magic.

Welcome to New Vegas, a city once covered in bling, now blanketed in ice. Like much of the destroyed planet, the place knows only one temperature—freezing. But some things never change. The diamond in the ice desert is still a 24-hour hedonistic playground and nothing keeps the crowds away from the casino floors, never mind the rumors about sinister sorcery in its shadows.

At the heart of this city is Natasha Kestal, a young blackjack dealer looking for a way out. Like many, she's heard of a mythical land simply called “the Blue.” They say it’s a paradise, where the sun still shines and the waters are turquoise. More importantly, it’s a place where Nat won’t be persecuted, even if her darkest secret comes to light.

But passage to the Blue is treacherous, if not impossible, and her only shot is to bet on a ragtag crew of mercenaries led by a cocky runner named Ryan Wesson to take her there. Danger and deceit await on every corner, even as Nat and Wes find themselves inexorably drawn to each other. But can true love survive the lies? Fiery hearts collide in this fantastic tale of the evil men do and the awesome power within us all.

Release Date October 2nd 2014

My Musings

This is a hybrid book of dystopian mixed with fantasy. Mad Max meets X Men meets The Wild West!! 
Sounds a mess and could have been but in the hands of these writers they pull together a vibrant and brutal world that is totally fascinating. Throw in an eclectic group of characters and this is a series which could become seriously addictive. 

Nat is in Las Vegas hiding her true identity and past. She is one of the minority with special skills that are hunted and used by the brutal authority. It s a lawless and dangerous place in which she has to survive whilst fighting the monstrous voices in her head telling her to find a legendary paradise called Blue. It has water and warmth of which there is precious little where she is. The only person who can get her there is Ryan who leads a rag tag band of mercenaries and has his own secrets and tragedies. 

A fantastical mix of dystopian and fantasy fiction that introduces us to some very endearing secondary characters and storylines that add depth to the bubbling romance between Nat and Ryan as they cross the treacherous toxic sea littered with icebergs of rubbish and slavers and pirates. They both fight their feelings towards one another and their journey takes you on a real roller coaster ride right up to the heart stopping finale. 

This is the first book of the series and I am already addicted. Some reviewers have commented that there are holes in the world building but it didn't bother me and I just thought those things will be explained as the series goes on. If you had an indepth history of this particular world included in the book it would have damaged the pace and excitement of the story and I didn't feel it was needed. 

A unique mix of genres that sets it apart and I can't wait for the next!

Trailer

If you like this you may like
Books
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Hunger Games by Suzanne Harris
Films
Mad Max Series
X Men Series

Interesting Facts
Official website of Melissa De La Cruz
Melissa De La Cruz

Michael Johnston is Melissa's husband and has been collaborating on her books from the beginning of her prolific career although his name has never appeared until now.
Below is a link to an interview with both and ineresting chat on their working life together and their thoughts on Frozen
Interview with husband and wife writing team Melissa and Michael

Book Review Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini

Synopsis

Love burns. Worlds collide. Magic reigns.

This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying many of the experiences that other teenagers take for granted...which is why she is determined to enjoy her first (and perhaps only) high-school party. But Lily's life never goes according to plan, and after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly Lily is in a different Salem - one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruellest of all the Crucibles is Lillian . . . Lily's identical other self in this alternate universe. This new version of her world is terrifyingly sensual, and Lily is soon overwhelmed by new experiences.

Lily realizes that what makes her weak at home is exactly what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. It also puts her life in danger. Thrown into a world she doesn't understand, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone, and a love she never expected.

But how can Lily be the saviour of this world when she is literally her own worst enemy?

My Musings

I know Josephine is a talented writer from her first series Starcrossed but this really cranks it up a notch. Lily suffers life endangering allergies , has a schizophrenic mother and absent father. Her rock and support system is her older sister Juliet and best friend Tristan. The plot speeds on at a crackling pace with Tristan becoming her boyfriend, cheating on her at a party of which the stress ends up with her have a seizure.

This calamitous event sends her to a new alternative world to which her doppelganger Lillian, a powerful witch, has called her for help. But why has Lillian called her here? Why does she push her away into the arms of her old lover who now hates her and Lilly because they are one of the same? So many twists and turns in this book I really don't know where to begin but it had me hooked from the beginning. The love/hate relationship with Rowen positively sizzles and I loved the developments through the book.  Lily grows from peace loving sensitive girl into a strong powerful witch is totally absorbing . The brewing romance and doomed love hover over the book filling it with tension. As does the question mark of why Lillian has become so evil? What future has she seen? Why did she push Rowan away and make him hate her so much? Some reviewers have said that for the arch enemy Lillian is under developed but I didn't feel that way at all. Her motives and what she sees in the future are the linch pin for the whole plot of the book and I just felt (and hope) that Josephine will build up her role in the future books. In this one it wasn't necessary. 

There are also many attractive secondary characters that you want to follow, Sweet sister Juliet, Rebel leader Alaric, Tristan in both worlds. Also her world building are rich in detail and not one dimensional. A brilliant start to a new series and I can't wait for the second one as you feel invested in the characters.

If you like this you might like

Throne of Glass Sarah J Maas

Review for Crown of Midnight the second in the series here

Daughter of Smoke and Bone Laini Taylor

Review for Days of Blood and Starlight, second in this series here

Book Review Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea by April G. Tucholke

Synopsis

Faded Gatsby glamour and thrilling gothic horror meet in this gorgeously told, terrifying and dreamy YA romance.

You stop fearing the devil when you're holding his hand...

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White's sleepy, seaside town...until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet's crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Violet's grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who likes coffee and who kisses you in a cemetery... Violet's already so knee-deep in love, she can't see straight. And that's just how River likes it.

My Musings

I was attracted by the Melissa Marr quote on the front calling it darkly romantic as well as its Gothic cover. It started very promisingly and LOVED Tucholke setting up of the family dynamic between Violet and her Brother Luke who have been left in this huge house reminiscent of Daphne Du Maurier after their grandmother dies. 

You could smell the salt in the air and the tension building with the arrival of new boy River renting out the summer house. Here it turns into more Vampire Diaries but still kept me hooked.

The romance between Violet and River doesn't sizzle enough for me but instead became more disturbing and open to some very dark interpretation. If a boy who is partly evil may have taken advantage of Violet by controlling her in a way she hadn't realised how is this romantic?  Violet's character is flawed by making her feisty in someways but weak in others that doesn't' endear you at all. She comes over as spoilt and not very nice. She reminded me a little of Cadence, the unpleasant character from We Were Liars. Although Violet is not quite as bad. River is a very disturbed character and you feel sorry for him and horrified by him rather than attracted to his 'bad boy' persona which I assume was the intention.

Conclusion
A twisted and dark 'romance' perfect for Halloween reading. Tucholke's setting and descriptions are very evocative and I would read another of her books just for this alone but will have to take a breath regarding plot as she certainly is more edgier than I expected!!!! This will will definately appeal to someone who hankers for less fluffier romantic teen fiction!!


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We Were Liars by E Lockart

Review Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

Synopsis

Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.

While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.

But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?

 

My Musings

I LOVED Daughter of Smoke and Bone, the intricate gothic style otherworldliness and colourful characters, so I couldn't wait to start the sequel Days of Blood and Starlight especially as it ended on such a cliffhanger between Karou and Akiva.

It continues to follow Karou, the blue haired heroine and her doomed love for her angel enemy Akiva. The story unpeels in startling fashion with twists and turns so speedy its breathtaking. I not going to put in any spoilers but I would recommend you read the first before this one and also don't leave it a while as I did before reading the second. Because of this it took me a while to get back into the story and remember what was what, but once I entered Laini Taylor's world I didn't want to leave. Laini' dives straight into the action and what I like is she tells the story from multiple view points which gives the book, along with her very vivid descriptions, a filmatic quality.

Karou and Akiva are on opposites sides of a very bloody war between the angels and the chimera. Karou believes that Akiva has betrayed her and her kind while he does not know even if she is alive for the first part of the book. NB Laini likes to put you into a false sense of security by letting you bond with the secondary but very strong and likeable characters then rips your heart out!!

What really comes over apart from the Romeo and Juliet type romance is the personal conflicts afflicting the rest of the characters and the complex situations they find themselves in. The story touches on cruelty, self sacrifice, unrequited love, loyalty and friendship. One of the stronger threads looks at soldiers wanting to serve their country but being asked to perform dreadful acts in their country's name. The brutality of killing innocents mirrors conflicts and questions being asked around the world today. Laini does not shy from the ugly questions war throws up.

 I was swept inside Laini's world of colour and light, darkness and pain. These characters will live on in my memory and cannot wait for the third.
Although after this book I am a little nervous about who will make it to the end!!!

Laini Taylor Official Website