Traitor to the Throne - Book Review

Traitor to the Throne - Book Review

(Rebel of the Sands Trilogy - Book 2)

Alwyn Hamilton

YA Fantasy

UK Publisher: Faber

Other books in the series:

Rebel of the Sands 

Synopsis:

This is not about blood or love. This is about treason.

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

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

Review:

There seem to be lots of mixed reviews circling about this book, but I thought Traitor to the Throne was simply brilliant. True it did have a slower pace than Rebels, but this second book focused more on world building and character development. We got a real in depth look at both the politics and backstory of Amani’s world - and I felt this book really showcased Amani’s quick wits and inner strength — which was one of the reason I was initially drawn to her character in the first place.

Picking up almost year after the last story left off, this book sees the rebellion growing in both strength and popularity. But when Amani is captured and her Dijinni powers neutralised, she must fall back on her old survival instincts if she is to navigate the treacherous web that is the Sultan’s palace. Now a captive turned spy - Amani will do anything to ensure the rebellion remains one step ahead of the Sultan. But the Sultan has dark and sinister plans for the rebellion, and it begins with him wielding a weapon intended only for Gods…

With so many conspiracies and lots of underlying intrigue, I devoured this book within days. Told mostly from Amani’s POV, I also loved the third person chapters that — with an old school, storytelling narrative — unveiled the history of the Gods and some of the major characters. It was all very beautifully written.

Thanks to the backstories - we also get a more in depth look behind each characters motivation. For example the Sultan was a particularly interesting character, strong willed, power hungry but difficult to hate, and I liked how Amani also had conflicting feelings about him too. He is definitely a very layered bad guy - and I can’t wait to see what he will throw at Amani and the gang next.

This book also had a lot of character development. I really loved how Amani used her brain instead of her powers to get herself out of trouble, and didn't rely on a boy to save her… much. Actually her relationship with Jin was a little strained in this book, but I actually liked how the romance took a backseat since Amani had more pressing concerns than thinking about boys. However I do hope there relationship grows deeper in the next book. Fingers crossed!

Otherwise this story contains lots of new characters - all with quirks and interesting stories of their own. We learn more about the Dijinni’s and their capabilities, and I can’t wait to read the final book because the ending… oooh it was so good. However, I did spot some of the plot twists before they happened, and I generally had a pretty good guess of what was coming next. Still, rather than diminishing my enthusiasm, this only increased my anticipation to see if I was right. Sometimes I was, but sometimes I wasn’t. 

All in all, a fantastical read! The final book cannot come soon enough!

4 stars!

Unbecoming - Book Review

Unbecoming - Book Review

Jenny Downham

YA Contemporary 

UK PUBLISHER: David Fickling Books

Synopsis:

Katie’s life is falling apart: her mum’s controlling, her dad’s run off, she’s in love with someone whose identity she can’t reveal and now her estranged grandmother’s turned up on the doorstep and Katie’s expected to take care of her. Soon Katie discovers she’s not the only one in the family hiding the truth. If she’s going to get her life back together, she’s going to have to expose everyone’s deepest secrets - including her own…

Review:

The were serval scenes in this story that really touched my heart. Exploring themes of sexuality, bullying, the pressure of expectation and the onset of dementia, this book follows a story that spans three generations. It is a book I won’t soon forget. 

When a grandmother Katie never knew she had, suddenly comes to live with them, Katie at last feels she has found someone who understands her. But grandma Mary has dark secrets of her own, and she wants them brought into the light before her growing dementia sucks them from her memory, forever. 

Following three generations of women, this is a story that reveals their struggles, triumphs  and searing determination to break free from the conformity of society and make their own marks on the world. Told from the dual perspectives of seventeen-year-old Katie and her grandmother, this book was very character orientated and packed a lot between its pages. 

Pressurised by her mother to be the perfect daughter, Katie is a closet lesbian - at least she was until she tried to kiss her best friend. Now ostracised from her classmates, and duty bound to her disabled younger brother, Katie feels trapped by her life. The arrival of her a long-lost-grandmother is a great comfort and distraction for her - but overall Katie came across as a very angsty and indecisive teen. 

She spends a good portion of the book whining and keeping her head down. It wasn't until the end I began to see some real character development - however the ending was one of the things I loved most about this book. 

Then there was grandma Mary, who was hands down my favourite character. The story explores both her wild youth and dips from past to present. The struggle she undergoes as her dementia becomes worse really broke my heart, but I loved how it allowed the author to merge reality with a touch of the otherworldly. The “conversations” Mary has with her deceased husband were the sweetest thing, and I loved how her husband played such a big role in the story despite not being alive. 

Yet one of the most touching scenes in the book was when Katie discovers the post-it-notes Mary’s husband left throughout the house. Things like “If you go outside - I want to hold your hand and come with you.” And “Only one spoonful of sugar, you are sweet enough.” These little notes told me so much about their relationship and I thought it was both the saddest and most romantic thing ever.

Overall though this is really a story of self discovery. Each character learns about who they are and becomes brave enough to share their true face with the world. 

My biggest gripe with this book though was that it was so long. A few times I had to put this book down for a breather - and also because things were taking a long time to happen. However I am glad I persevered with it, since it's a really emotional story that I fully enjoyed. 

4 stars!

Talk to me - has anyone else read this book? What were your thoughts?

Author Interview: H.J Blenkinsop + Free Ebook!

Today I'm really excited to welcome Middle Grade author, H.J Blenkinsop to the blog. If you haven't already, you can check out my review of her awesome debut - Kitty Tweddle and the Wishing Well - HERE.

Not only is it a fantastically magical read - but for the next few days (Feb 19t to Feb 20th) you can grab it for FREE. What are you waiting for my pretties, go go go!

Hey HJ,

First off, let me offer you a warm welcome to my blog. Thanks so much for taking the time to answer some questions.

So let’s jump right in. For anyone not familiar with your book, can you tell us a little bit about what it’s about?

Thanks for having me! Kitty Tweddle and the Wishing well is a coming of age story about a young girl who discovers she has magical powers, and how she uses them to save the world. 

Complete with talking cats, secret passageways, enchanted libraries and a gateway into Fairyland, it’s a story about courage, self confidence and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds. Although it’s aimed at middle-grade readers, I’ve had a great response from a much older audience too!

What was the inspiration behind Kitty Tweddle? And what came first, the story or the characters?

Both - but separately. The story was inspired by real events. A few years ago, while a doctoral student at the University of Edinburgh, I rented a basement apartment just outside the city. My landlords told me the story of the old well - the remains of which were still visible at the bottom of the garden. They also said that the underground stream feeding the well ran right under the house. 

One very rainy summer, it flooded the basement flowing down the hallway and out the back door! I started writing before it was dry. 

Kitty’s character, however, came about following a research project with a colleague called “The Cult of Hotness”. We explored the phenomenon of ‘hotness’ in western society and our findings were grim indeed. 

Not only does a woman’s worth appear to be tied to her perceived ‘hotness’ as opposed to her intelligence, creativity, contribution or even beauty, but this emphasis on hotness begins long before puberty. 

Pink princess culture, our research indicated, is a precursor to hotness culture, priming young girls to emphasize physical appearance and a very narrow definition of attractiveness. We were horrified!

 I wanted to do something to turn the tide. It wasn’t until years later when my Edinburgh basement flooded that the idea clicked into place. Create a protagonist that young girls will want to know. Create a cool girl who is everything pink princess culture isn’t. But also a girl who is real and has feelings, who makes mistakes and has to fix them. Someone readers can identify with. That was the inspiration behind Kitty’s character.

Can you tell us a little about you’re writing process? Any quirks or daily rituals that contribute to getting words on a page?

Coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. A feline muse or two really helps, too. But I don’t wait for inspiration. Once the mug is full and the cats are positioned. I just start writing. Anything, it doesn’t matter. Open a blank and just start writing. If I don’t know what to write, I write a questions for myself, ‘what would Kitty do next?’ and start answering it. It’s awkward at first, but usually, the words start flowing. 

There are a lot of myths and folklore in your novel - just how much research went into Kitty Tweddle?

Quite a bit - not just folklore but local history too. While the village of Dribble is a fictional name, it’s based on a real community just outside Edinburgh. I researched the local area and wove the history and folklore into the book. The well, the local library built on the foundations of a crypt, the old nunnery, it’s all real. 

What you are working on now? Any surprise projects we can expect from you?

Book two in the trilogy - Kitty Tweddle and the Secrets of Smugglers Cove - is due for release in a couple of months! I’m working hard putting the final touches on Smugglers right now. I also have plans to publish one or two companion stories later on this year.  

What is the best piece of advice you would give to aspiring writers?

Learn from others who have already done it. Join a group and get a good critique partner - I have one of the best! My writing wouldn’t be where it is without her. Develop a tough skin and don’t take the critique personally. Remember, critiques make your writing better. Also, learn the basics of grammar and expectations for your chosen genre. Finally, realize that your book will probably take many more drafts than you would like before it’s ready.

And for a bit of random….

Who is your favourite childhood villain?

The troll under the bridge in the Three Billy Goats Gruff. My sister and I had a set of Ladybird Books - Well Loved Tales. I loved to see the Billy Goats outfox the troll and then banish him back under the bridge where he belongs. 

If you were to have a tea-party with fictional characters - who would make the guest list?

Professor Moriarty, Bellatrix Lestrange, Raynard the Fox, Saruman, and Catwoman. Might be a bit of a murder party...

Tea of coffee?

Given the list above, probably poison!

Cheese or Chocolate?

Can we have both? Please?

Favourite Middle Grade or Young Adult Book of all time? If you can’t choose, tell us about a book you read and enjoyed recently …

One of my favourites, is the Abhorsen trilogy by Garth Nix. Such a unique story line. The gates of Hell, a magical wall, a private girls school, talking animals, zombies, demons, and a set of bells that control it all. Utter genius!

So great. Thanks very much HJ for answering my questions :) I always love getting a look inside an authors head!

Meanwhile if anyone would like to find out more about HJ or her books - follow the links below.

Twitter

Goodreads

Amazon

HJ's Website

Talk to me: Has anyone else read Wishing Well yet? If so I would love to hear your thoughts below :) 

What Not To Do If You Turn Invisible - Book Review

What Not To Do If You Turn Invisible

Ross Welford

MG Adventure

UK PUBLISHER: Harper Collins Children’s Books

Other Books by Ross Welford:

Time Travelling With A Hamster
The Dog Who Saved The World
The 1000 Year Old Boy
The Kid Who Came From Space

Synopsis:

Turning invisible at will: it’s one way of curing your acne. But far more drastic than 13 year-old Ethel Leatherhead intended when she tried a combination of untested medicines and a sunbed.

It’s fun at first, being invisible. And aided by her friend Boydy she manages to keep her extraordinary ability secret. Or does she …?

When one day the invisibility fails to wear off, Ethel is thrown into a nightmare of lies and deception as she struggles to keep herself safe, to find the remedy that will make her seen again — and solve the mystery of her own birth…

Review:

Ross Welford is fast becoming one of my favourite authors - although I may be a little biased. Being a Geordie myself, its pretty awesome to read a book set not only in Newcastle, but around the coast of Whitely Bay where I grew up. However what captured me most about this book was how the story seamlessly merges reality with a dash of science fiction. Funny, relatable and with an underlining family mystery, What not to do if you turn invisible was a real page turner.

When thirteen-year-old Ethel Leatherhead mixes Chinese magic medicine with a prolonged sleep on an sun bed, she discovers she’s lost more than her acne. Her whole body has disappeared! But being invisible isn't as fun as it seems. And when in an attempt to steal back an incriminating photo — Ethel learns that playing with fate is a dangerous thing. Now she may just be invisible forever….

This was a really fun read. Ethel is a very relatable protagonist (applause to Ross Welford for capturing a female POV so well) and while she doesn't always make the best decisions, she is loyal, quick thinking, and a generally nice person. Easy to like, her adventure is both humorous yet heart wrenching, and with so many layers to the plot - it’s a story that is easy to be swept into. 

One of the things I really enjoyed was how each character has a secret - all of which affect Ethel in some way - and all of which add so many subplots to the story. Not only does this mean that every character is fully fleshed out, but everyone from Ethel’s best friend, to her grandma and great grandma, even the evil twin’s at school, they are all involved in something that turns out to impact upon Ethel. Whether it be revealing truths, helping her grow a spine, or just making her a better person in general - this all comes together to make a really great story. 

Like Ross Welford’s last book - Time Traveling with a Hamster - this book also has a dash of science fiction. However I felt Ethel’s invisibility was explained very simply so that even younger readers can understand. Ethel's reaction to said invisibility was also both believable and hilarious - and comes with plenty of “don’t try this at home” warnings. 

Otherwise the story focuses on the theme of family and relationships. It explores trust and friendship, and I liked that this book lacked all the angst and finger-pointing hate that similar teen books have. As I said, Ethel is a generally nice person and you can really tell how much she loves her family. This helps her overcome the hurt she feels after uncovering some under-the-rug secrets, and wraps everything up nicely.

Overall I think this is a book many tweens, teens and adults will enjoy. Ross Welford has a knack for taking a simple story and, with a sprinkle of magic, turns it into something truly unique. I can’t wait to see what he will write next! 4 stars!

Need more magic and mystery? Then checkout THE DRAGON WITH A CHOCOLATE HEART and COGHEART