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Blog Tour & Review with Extract: Shadow Of The Fox by Julie Kagawa

Title: Shadow Of The Fox

Author: Julie Kagawa

Published: November 1st, 2018 

Publisher: HQ Young Adult

Rating: ★★★★★

Find the Author: Goodreads 

Disclosure: I was sent this ARC by the publisher, reviewing it as an impartial review. This does not sway my opinion of the book. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.

A single wish will spark a new dawn. Every millennium, one age ends and another age dawns…and whoever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers holds the power to call the great Kami Dragon from the sea and ask for any one wish. The time is near and the missing pieces of the scroll will be sought throughout the land of Iwagoto. The holder of the first piece is a humble, unknown peasant girl with a dangerous secret. Demons have burned the temple Yumeko was raised in to the ground, killing everyone within, including the master who trained her to both use and hide her kitsune powers. Yumeko escapes with the temple’s greatest treasure – one part of the ancient scroll. Fate thrusts her into the path of a mysterious samurai, Kage Tatsumi of the Shadow Clan. Yumeko knows he seeks what she has and is under orders to kill anything and anyone who stands between him and the scroll.

First Thoughts…

I have always been a fan of Julie’s books, right from the Iron Fey days. I’ve always kept my little Kagawa collection of books close to my heart, because I always know I’m in for one heck of a story-telling ride whenever I pick up one of Julie’s books. So when I got the chance to be a part of Shadow of The Fox’s Blog Tour, I had to do it. It’s Julie Kagawa, YA masterpiece writer! For me, this is definitely a highlight.

My Review…

I’ve always been in love with Fantasy books. Actually, when I started out with my blog, it was the main genre that I focused on. There’s something about one of Julie’s books that totally transforms the atmosphere where I’m reading into the story’s landscape, this time into the world where a single wish has sparked a new dawn. 

The story is split into a few perspectives from different characters.  There’s Yumeko, who is a half-kitsune (anyone remember Kira from Teen Wolf? That’s the kind of way I was basing a Kitsune from, because that’s what she was). There’s Kage Tatsumi, who is a samurai. Only every time he uses his sword (that’s violently possessed by a demon) it hurts him whenever he uses it. On the other hand, Suki, another character, is entirely different from Yumeko and Kage. But giving away too much about the way Suki’s character plays a part in the novel might give away too many spoilers. Yumeko has lived in a temple her whole life, until now. Now she’s willed to protect a precious scroll. The way that Yumeko and Kage interact and their paths cross is unlike any other kind of character clash, but together, this kind of magic happens. They, along with some friends, get deep into a world of things that go bump in the night. There’s demonic danger, thrills and an underlying mystery that I’ll be careful not to tell too much about, because it’s one of those kinds of ones where it’s better unsaid (and you need to read it for yourselves ASAP because it’s a favourite of mine this year!).
Overall, I can’t fault Shadow of The Fox in any way. It was a flawless plot, sometimes uneven pacing, but that really wasn’t a concern of mine because the story itself made up for the pace of the tale. This was just so unbelievably enthralling and mythic-ally magical that I ate it up page by page. I’m really excited to see what comes next from Julie because she never, ever disappoints. Five stars!

 Julie Kagawa was born in Sacramento, California. But nothing exciting really happened to her there. So, at the age of nine she and her family moved to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos, and frequent hurricanes. She spent much of her time in the ocean, when she wasn’t getting chased out of it by reef sharks, jellyfish, and the odd eel.
When not swimming for her life, Julie immersed herself in books, often to the chagrin of her schoolteachers, who would find she hid novels behind her Math textbooks during class. Her love of reading led her to pen some very dark and gruesome stories, complete with colored illustrations, to shock her hapless teachers. The gory tales faded with time, but the passion for writing remained, long after she graduated and was supposed to get a real job.To pay the rent, Julie worked in different bookstores over the years, but discovered the managers frowned upon her reading the books she was supposed to be shelving. So she turned to her other passion: training animals. She worked as a professional dogtrainer for several years, dodging Chihuahua bites and overly enthusiastic Labradors, until her first book sold and she stopped training to write full-time.
Julie now lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where the frequency of shark attacks are at an all time low. She lives with her husband, two obnoxious cats, one Australian Shepherd who is too smart for his own good, and the latest addition, a hyper-active Papillon puppy.
Julie is the author of the bestselling Iron Fey series. The Iron Knight the fourth title in The Iron Fey series publishes in Jan 2012. The Immortal Rules, the first title in a brand new series publishes in May 2012.
Visit Julie’s website at http://www.juliekagawa.comVisit the Iron Fey website http://www.theironfey.com/Follow Julie on Twitter @jkagawa




Shadow of the Fox
From Chapter 13: Song of the Kodama
There was a shimmer in the darkness, and the hairs on the back of my neck rose. Looking up, I saw a tiny, pale green figure, no larger than my thumb, watching me from atop a root a few feet away. It wore a round mushroom cap on its head, and its eyes were like black pits under the brim.
Tatsumi saw what I was looking at, and his hand went to his sword. “Tatsumi, no,” I warned, holding out a hand. “It’s a kodama, a tree kami. It won’t hurt us.” He relaxed, dropping his hand from the hilt, and I offered the kodama a smile.
“Hello,” I greeted softly, as the tiny kami tilted its head, watching me. “Please excuse us, we’re just passing through. We’re not disturbing your tree, I hope?”
The kodama didn’t blink. It watched me a moment more, then padded forward and hopped onto a stone, staring at me with pupilless black eyes. A faint sound rose into the air, like the rustle of leaves stirred by the wind. I nodded.
“I understand. We will stay to the path, and we’ll be careful not to tread on any new plants or trees. You have my promise.”
“You can speak to the kami.” Tatsumi’s tone didn’t question, though it sounded faintly surprised. “How?”
“The monks taught me,” I replied. Not the whole truth of course; I’d been able to see the spirit world—kami, yokai, yurei and the rest of the unnatural—for as long I could remember. One of the perks—or curses—of being half kitsune. Though the monks did teach me the differences between the myriad spirits in Iwagoto. There were the nine greater Kami, the named deities who were worshipped throughout Iwagoto; Jinkei, god of Mercy, Doroshin, god of Roads, and so on. The lesser kami were minor gods, spirits of nature and the elements; they existed everywhere, in the earth, the sky and all places in between. No one knew how many kami existed in the world; when people spoke of them as a whole, it was common to say “the eight million gods,” and leave it at that.
But besides the kami, many other strange, magical creatures roamed the land. Yokai were creatures of the supernatural; sometimes called monsters or bakemono, they could change their forms or had some amount of magic power, tanuki, kamaitachi and, of course, kitsune being prime examples. Yurei described the many restless ghosts that wandered the mortal realm, zashiki warashi, onryo, ubume and more. There were even some monstrous plants that preyed on humans and a handful of creatures that didn’t fit into any category, so the list of gods, ghosts and monsters was endless. But, even though some yokai were dangerous and some yurei had malicious intent, all were residents of Ningen-do, the mortal realm, and were to be respected.
Unlike the demons—the amanjaku, and terrible oni like Yaburama. They hailed from Jigoku, the realm of evil and corruption, and did not belong in the mortal world at all.
“Master Isao and the others revered the kami,” I went on. “They strove to exist in harmony with all forms of life. The most spiritual among them could see and even speak to the kami on occasion. I sort of had the talent for it, I suppose.”
“Is that why the kamaitachi listened to you?”
“Well…not really. I listened to them.”
From Julie –
I love this passage because it feels very much like a scene from an anime, reminiscent of Princess Mononoke or Spirited Away, two of my favorites.  It’s strange, surreal, and just the tiniest bit creepy, and it also marks the beginning of Tatsumi and Yumeko’s friendship.  
You can buy SHADOW OF THE FOX here:

Amazon | Waterstones | Book Depository 

Have you read Shadow of The Fox? If you have, who was your favourite character?


Let me know in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs!


happy reading!

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Halloween Week of Horrors 2018 | Day 2 – Book Review: Vicious Rumer by Joshua Winning
Title: Vicious Rumer
Author: Joshua Winning
Published: April 28th, 2018
Publisher: Unbound
Rating: ★★★★
Find the Authors: Goodreads

Disclosure: I was sent this book by the publisher/author, for an impartial review. This does not sway my opinion of the book. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.

Rumer Cross is cursed. Scraping by working for a dingy London detective agency, she lives in the shadow of her mother, a violent criminal dubbed the ‘Witch Assassin’ whose bloodthirsty rampage terrorised London for over a decade.Raised by foster families who never understood her and terrified she could one day turn into her mother, Rumer has become detached and self-reliant. But when she’s targeted by a vicious mobster who believes she’s hiding an occult relic, she’s drawn into the very world she’s been fighting to avoid.Hunted by assassins and haunted by her mother’s dark legacy, Rumer must also confront a terrible truth: that she’s cursed, because no matter what she does, everybody she’s ever grown close to has died screaming.


First Thoughts…

It’s always this time of year that my reading habits slip into something more mysterious and thrilling. When Joshua got in touch earlier this year, I knew this would be perfect to host during my Halloween Week of Horrors because I mean, one glance at the book and it screams thrilling. There’s something very alluring about the striking cover and brief blurb, so I was extremely excited to get started reading.

My Review…

This is
the first novel I’ve read by Joshua, and I can see straight away that I like
the way he writes Rumer’s character. There’s something jagged and edgy about
Rumer – and the writing style – that comes across as nitty and gritty and just
so-very-readable. The story is about Rumer Cross, a young adult from London.
The opening scene is quite striking (I won’t give away any spoilers only that
it involves a hammer) and from the get-go, I’m reeled into her story, her
choices, values and how she got in the place she’s in now.
All I
know from getting deeper into her story is that she’s cursed, but she’s strong.
She was abandoned by her mother when she was born and it’s haunted her ever
since. Her mother’s profession has haunted her to, from her title as The
Witch Assassin. She had a rocky upbringing, bouncing from foster homes
all her life. I got the impression that she was a lost soul, but wanted to find
a place she can belong with people she can love, but anyone who’s ever gotten
close has ended up dead. There’s a darkness that surrounds the plot of Vicious Rumer, as we
learn that someone is hunting Rumer for a lost item they believe she has, that
ties into her history and mother’s past. As she fights to come to terms with
her life and the people targeting her, it’s make or break for her and
everything she knows.
Overall, Vicious
Rumer is unlike any book I’ve read before. Whilst
sometimes I did get lost in the plot, there wasn’t a moment where I wasn’t
completely fascinated with everything that arose, the bewitching history of
Rumer’s past and the way the writing never failed to keep me on the edge of my
seat with anticipation. This was one of the best YA-meets-Thriller I’ve read in
a long time (maybe even ever) and I’d recommend it extremely highly. If
your reading jam is dark, edgy YA’s with a strong female heroine, Joshua
Winning has you covered with this incredible read! Amazing four stars.

You can buy VICIOUS RUMER on:


Amazon | Book Depository 

Have you read Vicious Rumer?


What do you think?


Let me know in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs! 


happy reading!

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Blog Tour & Review: A Storm of Ice and Stars by Lisa Lueddecke

Title: A Storm Of Ice And Stars
Author: Lisa Lueddecke
Published: October 4th, 2018
Publisher: Scholastic
Rating: ★★★★
Find the Authors: Goodreads

Disclosure: I was sent this ARC by the publisher, reviewing it as an impartial review. This does not sway my opinion of the book. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.


Ice, myth, magic and danger in this bone-chilling, page-turning, beautifully written fantasy novel set in the same world as A SHIVER OF SNOW AND SKY. Blood-red lights have appeared in the sky over the frozen island of Skane, causing a cloak of fear and suspicion to fall over the village like a blanket of snow. In a desperate attempt to keep out the plague, the village elders barricade its borders – no-one, no matter how in need of help, will be permitted to enter in case they bring infection with them. 

Teenager Janna refuses to turn her back on people seeking refuge and is banished to the swirling snow and lurking darkness beyond the village. Can she survive? 

First Thoughts…

It’s no secret that I love a good story within a pretty cover, and A Shiver Of Snow and Sky and now A Storm of Ice and Stars have both of those incredible attributes. When I was asked to review this lovely little book and be on the tour, I couldn’t say no. I love Lisa’s style of writing so much so I was eager to get into this fast with the aesthetic being fitting for these colder months!

My Review…

In Skane, if you weren’t already aware of the fictional island where the books (which are stand-alone but you can read them as a series) take place, is a frozen wonderland where the sky talks in colours. Maybe not the wonderland part, though. Not since red lights have danced across the skyline, wreaking havoc and panic over the villages. They know it means that the plague is coming, and forced with immediate dangers, they shut the borders and permit no one to enter for fear of bringing in the illness. 
But Janna, our focal character, is a fighter. A true fictional heroine type. She refuses to give up and just turn away people who need the villages help. Making her decision rules against the others and she’s banished to the snowy darkness of nothingness. Survival is key, but in a twisted and icy backdrop where nothing is safe and magic is lurking, Janna finds herself fighting for her own safety. 
I just loved this book. Everything about it just screams winter and enticingly icy backdrops are that breath of fresh air once we step into the colder months. I’ve been in a bit of a book-rut lately and A Storm of Ice and Stars has totally just reignited my love for YA Fiction all over again. Although I did love the previous book, A Shiver of Snow and Sky a little more than this one, this is equally as steadily-paced and beautifully written. There’s something in the way that Lisa writes that is so deeply graceful and I can never look away from the pages for a second. 
Overall, A Storm of Ice and Stars is a must read this Autumn/Winter season. I read this delicious slice of snowy story-time by a few winter-y candles, scooped up a blanket and made it a full “reading spot” to set the scene for it, and I definitely recommend! You’ll feel transported to Skane, swept up in this iridescent icy tale and fall in love just as much as I did. Incredible four star read! 




Born into an Air Force family which gave her a love for travel, Lisa Lueddecke has spent her life moving between four countries and five states. She currently resides in England, is one of five girls, and is a former book blogger and publishing intern turned writer.


A STORM OF ICE AND STARS by Lisa Lueddecke out now in paperback (£7.99, Scholastic)
@LisaLueddecke        www.lisalueddecke.com
#ICEandSTARS

Have you read the incredible A Storm of Ice and Stars?


What do you think?


Let me know in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs! 


Be sure to share your thoughts using the above hashtag and add the book to your Goodreads to read! You won’t regret a single page of this magic!


happy reading!

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Book Review: What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera

Title: What If It’s Us
Author: Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera
Published: October 18th, 2018
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Rating: ★★★★★
Find the Authors: Goodreads | Goodreads


Disclosure: I was sent this ARC by the publisher, reviewing it as an impartial review. This does not sway my opinion of the book. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.


Arthur is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it.
Ben thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things.
But when Arthur and Ben meet-cute at the post office, what exactly does the universe have in store for them?
Maybe nothing. After all, they get separated.
Maybe everything. After all, they get reunited.
But what if they can’t quite nail a first date . . . or a second first date . . . or a third?
What if Arthur tries too hard to make it work . . . and Ben doesn’t try hard enough?
What if life really isn’t like a Broadway play?
But what if it is?

First Thoughts…

It’s not every day that a book as incredible as What If It’s Us gets posted through my letterbox. But you know what? I am SO. DARN. THANKFUL for Olivia at Simon and Schuster for sending this gorgeous book into my life, because it just so happens to have stolen my heart and run away with it. . .

My Review…

I’m going to do it. I’m going to tell you just how incredible this book was in the first opening line. THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING. What If It’s Us has exceeded my expectations and within just halfway through the book, I was already thinking it: this might just be the best book I’ve read all year. And it’s September. I’ve read a lot of books this year. Counting ones I haven’t reviewed yet, that’s almost 40 books. And this one just walks out, steals my heart and runs away with all it’s cuteness and gah. I can’t even put it into words. But I’m going to try. . .
The book is told in two POV’s: Arthur’s and Ben’s. Arthur is only in New York for the Summer and he’s already overwhelmed by everything. He’s helping out where his Mom works and doing things like coffee runs and mailing things at the post office. That’s where Ben comes into it. Arthur and Ben’s worlds collide when they run into each other at the Post Office and get talking. They have this instant connection, talking about the universe and their words just free-flow so easily with each other. But then they get separated by the crowd and all Arthur has is a snippet of a name from the box Ben was mailing – to his ex-boyfriend. 
Ben has just had his heart broken, but when he meets Arthur, it’s like the universe is giving him something again. But as soon as he thinks there might be something, they’re separated. They’re both beginning to think that the universe has it out for them until they’re reunited by some sleuthing on the internet on Arthur’s end. 
They have date after date, but they can’t really nail that perfect first date. So they replay that first-date-feeling over and over until they get it as perfect as perfect gets. But self-doubt and life keeps cutting their worlds further apart and when they both feel like they’re trying, the other feels let down. The sudden whirlwind summer comes crashing down and faced with the outcome, it’s make or break for their finale in their Broadway play of romance.
Just WOW. I can’t imagine anyone hating this book. Like ever. There’s cute-as-ever Arthur and funnier-than-funny Ben, and putting them together you get this couple that’s just breathtaking. Becky and Adam write their romance so honestly and gorgeously that it’s like I’m reading a Netflix rom-com. I was swept up in a love story so bright and beautiful that the real world fell to petals around me and everything became What If It’s Us. 
Overall, you need this book in your life. Everyone does. Not a romance lover? You will be after this book. This book is honestly a game-changer. What If It’s Us has been my favourite book of the year and is in my top ten favourite reads of all time, just like that. You have no idea just how validly perfectly-unperfect this novel truly is until you open the pages. Five huge stars!
You can buy WHAT IF IT’S US here:

Amazon | Waterstones | Book Depository 

Have you read What If It’s Us? Are you looking forward to it?


Let me know in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs!


happy reading!

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Book Review: These Rebel Waves by Sara Raasch

Title: These Rebel Waves (Stream Raiders #1)
Author: Sara Raasch
Published: August 8th, 2018
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (Harper Collins)
Rating: ★★★★★
Find the Author: Goodreads 

Disclosure: I was sent this ARC by the publisher, reviewing it as an impartial review. This does not sway my opinion of the book. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.


Adeluna is a soldier. Five years ago, she helped the magic-rich island of Grace Loray overthrow its oppressor, Argrid, a country ruled by religion. But adjusting to postwar life has not been easy. When an Argridian delegate vanishes during peace talks with Grace Loray’s new Council, Argrid demands brutal justice—but Lu suspects something more dangerous is at work.
Devereux is a pirate. As one of the outlaws called stream raiders who run rampant on Grace Loray, he pirates the island’s magic plants and sells them on the black market. But after Argrid accuses raiders of the diplomat’s abduction, Vex becomes a target. An expert navigator, he agrees to help Lu find the Argridian—but the truth they uncover could be deadlier than any war.
Benat is a heretic. The crown prince of Argrid, he harbors a secret obsession with Grace Loray’s forbidden magic. When Ben’s father, the king, gives him the shocking task of reversing Argrid’s fear of magic, Ben has to decide if one prince can change a devout country—or if he’s building his own pyre.
As conspiracies arise, Lu, Vex, and Ben will have to decide who they really are . . . and what they are willing to become for peace.

First Thoughts…

Thank the book Gods that I got an ARC of These Rebel Waves! I was counting the days until it was out, until the lovely (and always amazing) team over at Harper360 sent me a copy! It went straight into my TBR and everything from there was book-bliss! 

My Review…

I don’t read nearly as many YA Fantasy books as I should (and I have shelves of them!) because I’m naturally drawn to Contemporary, but for These Rebel Waves, I got myself all fantasy-ready. I got one of my Fairyloot bookmarks, lit some candles and delved in! We’re introduced to so much so quickly, so it’s really prominent that you’ve got to pay attention. Adeluna, also known mostly as “Lu” thought that war was over and done with, having been a soilder. But she soon learns she can’t hang up her old self yet, because she’s thrown right back into new dangers. After the capture of Vex, Devereux Bell formally, who is one of the island’s biggest and most notable raiders, a new treaty between enemies falls apart. 
There’s a lot of action – and a lot going on that bounces from topic, to magic, to politics – flowing easily from page to page. For me, the magic element was hugely what kept me reading faster and faster. There’s magical plants of sorts, that can heal or hinder, depending on how they’re used. Some are hesitant about these things and others thrive on them, but one that is opposed is prince Benat “Ben”. I found myself drawn to Lu the most, whilst still finding Vex and Ben’s perspectives and journey’s thrilling and their characters developing steadily against the plot. Whilst at times there can be a lot going on pacing wise, once you really get into the book, knowing all the ins and outs, it’s like you’re transported to beside the characters, cheering them on and getting truly invested in their tales.
I was really surprised at how much I utterly fell head over heels for These Rebel Waves. Not only is there LGBT representation in the novel, but the characters skin isn’t your typical “every shade of ivory and pale”, skin tones ranging from very pale to dark (and I can’t say just how much this matters!).
Overall, I just have no words. I can’t think of anything other than phenomenal to describe just how much I became addicted to These Rebel Waves. If you’re looking for a new fantasy read with strong, whip-smart female characters, action, romance and political magic, you’ve found your new soulmate. Huge five stars!! (And I can’t wait for the next in this duology)
You can buy THESE REBEL WAVES:

Amazon | Waterstones | Book Depository 

Have you read These Rebel Waves? Are you looking forward to it?


Let me know in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs!


happy reading!

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Blog Tour & Review: Show Stealer by Hayley Barker (Spoiler-Free)

Hello book lovers and welcome to the deadliest show–I mean, tour, today! I’m kicking off the lovely SHOW STEALER by Hayley Barker, the follow-up to SHOW STOPPER, which you know I loved so much. So stay tuned!


Title: Show Stealer 
Author: Hayley Barker
Published: August 2nd, 2018
Publisher: Scholastic
Rating: ★★★★★
Find the Author: Goodreads 

Disclosure: I was sent this ARC by the publisher, reviewing it as an impartial review. This does not sway my opinion of the book. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.

Hoshiko and Ben have been on the run since they burned Silvio Sabatini’s circus down to the ground at the explosive finale of SHOW STOPPER. But Ben’s mother will stop at nothing to track him down and get her revenge: backing him into a corner where he is forced to sacrifice himself to save Hoshiko. The deadliest show on earth has been resurrected and if Ben thought he’d seen into its dark corners as an outsider, the true extent of the horrors that lurk beneath the Big Top are about to be revealed as he becomes the circus’ new star attraction…

First Thoughts…

I got an ARC of Show Stopper before it came out and I just knew after reading it that there would be a huge hype because of how insanely amazing it was and I was right! Hayley’s books have gained this incredible following and rightly so. When I was offered the chance to be on her blog tour for Show Stealer, I jumped at the chance! Getting to be a part of this has definitely been a highlight for me, blog wise, this year. 

My Review…

We’re right back into the action in Show Stealer that first engrossed us last year, back into the lives of Hoshiko and Ben. The story picks up a little after the end of the first, in alternating perspectives. They’re on the run – since burning down Silvio’s circus in Show Stopper – and even a year on, dodging the ruthless chase from Ben’s mother and others trying to find them. With a reward on their heads, it’s more dangerous than ever to get close to anyone else for fear of being turned in. But being backed into a corner by his mother, Ben is forced to sacrifice himself to save Hoshiko once and for all.
Thrown into the spotlight as the new star attraction of the circus – risen from the ashes – the deadliest show on earth is far darker on the inside than as an outsider. The deeper that he gets involved and learns more of the show, the more revelations come to light that changes everything they thought they knew about the circus. 
Wow, wow, wow. Just wow. Have you ever been reading a book and you just have to stop and think “this is amazing, please don’t ever end?” Because that’s how I felt when I was reading Show Stealer. There’s something about the way Hayley writes that’s so hypnotic, and I was reeled in by the darkness of the deadliness, turning pages faster and faster. The pacing is so faultless that putting it down at one a.m. wasn’t on my mind, and I kept reading until the sky was as dark as the turns Ben took in the circus. I finished the book in two sittings over two days (if it was up to me I wouldn’t have put it down in between, but you know, life) and I seriously can’t wait to just binge-read the entire series again. 
Overall, Show Stealer has stolen my heart in the best possible way. Hayley is such a talented and unique author and I am so lucky to have been a part of the Show Stopper – Show Stealer journey over the last couple years. There’s hidden messages in the book that entwine with society and perception (which is one of my favourite things) that makes this a definite highlight of YA Fiction this year for me. If you’re looking for just one series to start this year, make it Hayley’s. You won’t regret this stunning five-star read.

Hayley Barker has a BA (hons) degree from Birmingham University and has taught secondary school English for eighteen years. 

She is a huge YA fiction fan and says being published is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to her. 

Hayley was inspired to write her YA because of her fears about the growing wave of crime and animosity against minority groups in England. She lives in Essex with her husband and two young sons.

It’s the last few days to enter this INCREDIBLE giveaway I’m running for SHOW STEALER!

Have you read Show Stealer/Stopper?


What did you love the most about the series?


Let me know in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs!


happy reading!

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Book Review: Save The Date by Morgan Matson + Giveaway!

Title: Save The Date
Author: Morgan Matson
Published: June 5th, 2018
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Rating: ★★★★★
Find the Author: Goodreads 

Disclosure: I bought this book myself, reviewing it as an impartial review. Giveaway copies are sponsored. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.

Charlie Grant’s older sister is getting married this weekend at their family home, and Charlie can’t wait—for the first time in years, all four of her older siblings will be under one roof. Charlie is desperate for one last perfect weekend, before the house is sold and everything changes. The house will be filled with jokes and games and laughs again. Making decisions about things like what college to attend and reuniting with longstanding crush Jesse Foster—all that can wait. She wants to focus on making the weekend perfect.
The only problem? The weekend is shaping up to be an absolute disaster.
There’s the unexpected dog with a penchant for howling, house alarm that won’t stop going off, and a papergirl with a grudge.
There are the relatives who aren’t speaking, the (awful) girl her favorite brother brought home unannounced, and a missing tuxedo.
Not to mention the neighbor who seems to be bent on sabotage and a storm that is bent on drenching everything. The justice of the peace is missing. The band will only play covers. The guests are all crazy. And the wedding planner’s nephew is unexpectedly, distractingly…cute.
Over the course of three ridiculously chaotic days, Charlie will learn more than she ever expected about the family she thought she knew by heart. And she’ll realize that sometimes, trying to keep everything like it was in the past means missing out on the future. 

First Thoughts…

YAS! That is the first thing that came into my mind, several months ago, when I heard Morgan had another book coming out. I’ve been a fan since the Amy & Roger days, and this latest edition would be no different. I pre-ordered my copy on Book Depository, and when it arrived, I FLIPPED. But not because of the book, but because I didn’t know that it was a SIGNED FIRST EDITION! For a moment, I thought there had been a mistake and even took to Instagram to fangirl. But it was all good! And I began reading that same day…

My Review…

Charlie’s sister is getting married. For any normal family, this would be a perfectly normal amount of stress. But when you’re part of the Grant family – of GRANT CENTRAL STATION, a comic-strip –  it’s a whole other world of chaos, especially now that the house they’ve grown up in and was featured in the comic-strip, is being sold. So Linnie, Charlie’s sister, wants to get married there before it’s gone to them forever. There’s a lot of history there, and from the word go, there’s 100% laughs-meets-drama.
Charlie has been in love with Jesse Foster, her brother Mike’s best friend, since she can remember. There’s nothing she wants more than to be happy with him, but there’s history there, too. Things that have kept them apart. And despite their fiery past, their present has been divided from each other’s lives. So when all Charlie’s siblings come back for the wedding, she’s thrown into Jesse’s life again, whilst juggling planning Linnie’s wedding, and it comes to a head with disaster after disaster…
I’m always a sucker for these types of books. Morgan has such a way of building character development and making me automatically care about the Grant family from the first few chapters. There’s love – a lot of it – heartbreak, family and so. much. more! I can’t tell you just how fast Save The Date has climbed into the top three books I’ve read this year, and I’ve only read twenty or so!
Overall, Save The Date is a story not to be missed. There’s something so magical about this book, these characters and the way the words make me fall faster in love with each new chapter. Morgan has gifted us the beauty of her best book to date. I had this feeling, as soon as I’d finished reading, like my heart was full. And I think it’s to do with the family and love, that came together in this gift, wrapped in a bow, that never had a dull moment. You are missing out if this isn’t on your TBR. Five stars completely! GOSH I just want to gush all day about this sweet-as-sugar book.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster (and Olivia!) I can offer THREE paperback copies of SAVE THE DATE for a giveaway! UK Only, ends July 1st! 

To enter, all you have to do is follow the instructions on my pinned-tweet. Good luck!

Have you read Save The Date?


What did you love the most about Charlie’s story?


Let me know in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs!


happy reading!

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Blog Tour & Review: One Small Thing by Erin Watt

Title: One Small Thing

Author: Erin Watt
Published: June 28th, 2018
Publisher: HQ Young Adult
Rating: ★★★★
Find the Author: Goodreads 

Disclosure: I received this ARC in exchange for an impartial review. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.



Beth’s life hasn’t been the same since her sister died. Her parents try to lock her down, believing they can keep her safe by monitoring her every move. When Beth sneaks out to a party one night and meets the new guy in town, Chase, she’s thrilled to make a secret friend. It seems a small thing, just for her.
Only Beth doesn’t know how big her secret really is…
Fresh out of juvie and determined to start his life over, Chase has demons to face and much to atone for, including his part in the night Beth’s sister died. Beth, who has more reason than anyone to despise him, is willing to give him a second chance. A forbidden romance is the last thing either of them planned for senior year, but the more time they spend together, the deeper their feelings get.
Now Beth has a choice to make—follow the rules, or risk tearing everything apart…again. 


 

First Thoughts…

Ah, YA Contemporary Romance. My constant and ever-loving genre. It’s no surprise as soon as I was offered to be on Erin’s tour and read the lovely One Small Thing, I was SOLD. I’ve heard of Erin’s books a lot in the blogger world and I think this is one of few she has in this contemporary setting. The blurb was enough to sell me in so many ways. I’m a sucker for stories that can make me feel something and I could already feel attached to this story before getting past the first page.

My Review…

Beth’s life has been so different, but losing your sister can do that to a person. Her Parents have kept her sheltered now, trying to be over protective and keep her safe. Letting her hair down is a thing of the past, until one night, she sneaks out to a party. When she meets Chase, a new guy in town, he lights up a part of her world that had become darkened by being kept away. He’s her secret friend, somehow despite the small insignificance of it all, it’s enough to keep her going. But what she doesn’t anticipate is that Chase’s secrets are about to out-do hers. 
Chase is fresh out of juvie. But even though he wants to start over and move on, he can’t, because he has actions that need facing up to – his part in Beth’s sister’s death. And when Beth finds out Chase’s secrets – and the ways that she shouldn’t want to be anywhere near him – it shocks them both when she decides to give him a second chance, out of the blue. It starts as a friendship, but what blooms from that is a forbidden and dangerous romance that neither of them planned, threatening their reputations, the rules Beth lives by and staying faithful to her Sister’s memory.
Overall, One Small Thing was one small thing that made my day a whole lot brighter. Not only was Beth’s despair and grief oh-so-believable, but the romance, despite myself not understanding some of her actions sometimes and picking Chase of all people, was easy and flowed so naturally for them both through the words on the pages. But it’s more than just about grief, but forgiveness and acceptance, and learning how to be happy again, despite things that pull you into the darkness, a perfect sum that Erin captures blissfully in her writing. There’s something so much bigger than just a fluffy YA book about One Small Thing – it holds more weight, in meaningfulness and the after-effects of loss and recovery. Four very large (not one small!) stars.

Erin Watt is the brainchild of two bestselling authors linked together through their love of great books and an addiction to writing. They share one creative imagination. Their greatest love (after their families and pets, of course)? Coming up with fun-and sometimes crazy-ideas. Their greatest fear? Breaking up.

Have you read any of Erin Watt’s books?


What makes you pick up a book – the cover or the blurb?


Thank you so much for stopping by my day on Erin’s tour!


happy reading!

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Blog Tour & Review: Jiddy Vardy by Ruth Estevez

Title: Jiddy Vardy
Author: Ruth Estevez
Published: June 21st, 2018
Publisher: Zuntold
Rating: ★★★★
Find the Author: Goodreads 

Disclosure: I received this ARC in exchange for an impartial review. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.

1779. On tumultuous waters a girl is born as pirates board the ship . . .
Jiddy Vardy is a survivor.
Rescued at birth, she grows up in Robin Hood’s Bay, a community which harbours a dangerous secret, one that could get you killed.
Always the outsider, with her dark skin and hair, at sixteen Jiddy is clever, brave and headstrong, soon risking her life and freedom to play her part in the Bay’s clandestine activities.
Then, just as romance blossoms and Jiddy finally feels like she belongs, figures from the past threaten to tear her world apart, and she has to decide where her loyalties truly lie.
A thrilling tale of one girl’s search for identity and love, set against a backdrop of wild seas, smuggling and violence. 

First Thoughts…

The synopsis of Jiddy Vardy reeled me in from the start. Not only did words like Robin Hood’s Bay and romance stand out, but this slice of YA is intertwined with pirates and set in 1779! I’ve never quite picked up a book like this, so I was eager to start! 

My Review…

There’s something so enticing about Jiddy Vardy from the very beginning. We’re pulled into this deeply surprising, cut-throat story with Jiddy at the forefront. We soon learn that the stature of the plot rests on Jiddy and the role that she plays among pirates involved in a sort of smuggling opperation. It’s never shy of action, even during the slower parts of Jiddy’s story, and it’s hard to crawl out once the plot anchors it’s hook into your mind. 
I was surprised at the love-triangle, because I really had my sights on Jiddy and Jonas being the only ones for each other, because of their bond already established and it seemed unlike Jiddy’s character. But we have to remember her age and that the torn-love-interests echo her passionate thought of idealistic choices. But nevertheless, Ruth blends the romance, search of Jiddy’s identity and the action, perfectly, still. Jiddy is extremely wise for her age, and has one of the smartest heads on her shoulders. It’s because of this that we can understand her more and the reasons she does things, or the way that she can be so loving but never turn her back, too wise and loyal to underestimate. 
Overall, Jiddy Vardy has knocked me off my feet. It’s so clear that this is more than a search for identity, violence and love, but an epic YA adventure that was phenomenal from mighty start to heroic end. There’s so much emotion, character and in-depth detail in Ruth’s writing style and Jiddy’s tale never failed to keep me entertained throughout. I never thought I’d love a story with Pirates in as much as I absolutely loved Jiddy Vardy. Thank you, Ruth, for writing one of the best books I’ve read in a long while! Amazing four-stars! 

by Ruth Estevez
I don’t play music when I’m writing, so I’ve made a playlist of music from when I was between 17 – early 20s with a few extras thrown in.
They are chosen because ….the singer is passionate and I believe them. I like the tune. They are from a time in my life where they meant something. I love guitars and drums. Some just make me happy. Some may be a bit cheesy but cheese can be good. I love Ella Fitzgerald, and gutsy singing. And some of these just make me laugh!
 Songs:

Have you read Jiddy Vardy? It’s out TODAY!


What do you think of the book’s theme?


Let me know in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs! Be sure to check out the rest of the tour dates above on the banner!


happy reading!

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Guest Post + Review: Arrowheart by Rebecca Sky

Title: Arrowheart (The Love Curse #1)
Author: Rebecca Sky
Published: June 14th, 2018
Publisher: Hodder
Rating: ★★★★★
Find the Author: Goodreads 

Disclosure: I received this ARC in exchange for an impartial review. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.


Kiss the boys and make them cry…
The gods are gone. The people have forgotten them. But sixteen-year-old Rachel Patel can’t forget – the gods control her life, or more specifically, her love life.
Being a Hedoness, one of a strong group of women descended from Greek God Eros, makes true love impossible for Rachel. She wields the power of that magical golden arrow, and with it, the promise to take the will of any boy she kisses. But the last thing Rachel wants is to force someone to love her . . .
When seventeen-year-old Benjamin Blake’s disappearance links back to the Hedonesses, Rachel’s world collides with his, and her biggest fear becomes a terrifying reality. She’s falling for him – a messy, magnetic, arrow-over-feet type of fall.
Rachel distances herself, struggling to resist the growing attraction, but when he gives up his dream to help her evade arrest, distance becomes an insurmountable task. With the police hot on their trail, Rachel soon realizes there are darker forces hunting them – a group of mortals recruited by the gods who will stop at nothing to preserve the power of the Hedonesses – not to mention Eros himself, who is desperate to reverse the curse . . .
Rachel must learn to do what no Hedoness has done before – to resist her gift – or she’ll turn the person she’s grown to love into a shadow of himself … for ever. 

First Thoughts…

I think I’ve always had a thing for mythology. Some of my early scribbles as a wanna-be writer were influenced by the Gods, just like Arrowheart. So when I had the chance to be a part of the tour, (and I mean, c’mon, one look at the cover and the blurb and I was HOOKED) I jumped at the chance. But the story collides mythology with love and being descendant from a God, and that just had me. I couldn’t stop myself from reading – even if it was two a.m. in the morning!

My Review…

Rachel is such a likeable character from the get-go. I love that despite wielding this immense power to make any boy fall head over heels in love with her, she just wants to be your average girl. To fall in love with ease. To not feel like she’s meant for something huge and to live a perfectly normal life. But being a Hedoness, she kinda can’t. Her and Marissa, another Hedoness, have this power that centers around the book’s first mystery. Boys are going missing and then turning up again, not knowing what happened the entire time. But the girls know all too well what’s happening. Rachel doesn’t want to make anyone love her – not forcibly, anyway – and when Benjamin, a missing boy, comes into the picture and his absence links back to the Hedonesses, it’s a fight or flight reaction.
Forced to try and ignore her feelings for him and focus on the growing suspicion around her, she can’t help but fall deeper in love with the boy she can never have love her. But then, the Police get involved and she’s thrown into a dilemma. She has to leave, and when Benjamin gives up what he loves to go on the run with her and not get arrested, they’re not only being hunted by the Police, but by something much more sinister.
I just…this book BROKE ME and HEALED ME again. I haven’t read a book this fast-paced and funny and interesting in such a long time! Not only was the Greek Mythology history and factual spin on YA unique and incredible with the world-building, but the characters were just so normal. So believable. Even though most were descendant from Gods or unlike me at all, I connected with Rachel so much on so many levels (even though we couldn’t be lightyears away from each other).
Overall, Arrowheart has struck it’s golden arrow right into my heart. I am blown away by this epic-YA that has woven it’s way into my favourites. Getting to the ending and that cliffhanger was just so nail-biting! I can’t wait for the next book in the series. I NEED IT! Rebecca (name twin!), this is clearly one of my favourite books I’ve read in such a long time. Five stars isn’t enough!

After graduating high-school, Rebecca Sky set out on a five-year, 24 Country exploration to find herself. She slept in a hammock in the Amazon Jungle, skinny-dipped off the West African Coast, ate balut and climbed the chocolate hills in the Philippines, and fell in love in Cuba (then again in Brazil, and a final time to a Rocker from Canada). Rebecca returned home to the West Coast captivated by the world and ready for another adventure. 
So she did what every wanderer does when standing still—began writing. Her work has since garnered over 20 million reads on Wattpad, and she’s had the opportunity to partner with some really great brands. She was featured in The New York Times and The Boston Globe, (check out those articleshere). Her debut Arrowheart, book one in THE LOVE CURSE series will be published by Hodder Children a division of Hachette Book Group. Look for that in stores June 14th, 2018!

Rebecca Sky, on Greek mythology:
I grew up in a very religious home, and because of that I spent the majority of my childhood weekends in some form of Church activity like Sunday School. I was never very good at sitting still and was bored most of the time, which meant I’d find ways to self-entertain, ways that resulted in my being sent to time-out more often than I’d like to admit. I made a game of it though, throwing out one-liners that made the entire class burst into giggles and the teachers mumble prayers of serenity under breath.
Eventually they realized that time-out wasn’t helping any of us, (I mean, if I couldn’t sit still on the pew, why would the corner change things?). We came to the compromise that I could read my bible during lectures, which really meant I’d slip a comic book behind the cover and read that instead. I thought I’d found the key to surviving Sunday School until they caught me and told me that I was only allowed to read books from the church library. I begrudgingly searched through and pulled out a Greek/English bible thinking the writing on the spine looked kinda magical.
That was my first introduction to the Greek language and I was fascinated. I tried to teach myself by memorizing the Greek version of familiar passages. I couldn’t get enough and eventually took every book about Greece out of my local library, one of which was a book on mythology. I spent my days reading about the Gods and their wild adventures, and thought it was unfair that the Greeks got the cool Gods and my family’s God was boring (please, don’t tell my Nana I said that).

It is taught that humans were born with 2 heads, 4 arms and 4 legs, and only one soul, but Zeus feared our power and cut us apart. Now we spend our lives searching for the other half of our soul. 

I’d often imagine the Greek Gods in my Sunday School stories – Samson the strong became Heracles the son of Zeus, etc.. So when I stumbled upon the bible verse Genesis 6:4, “when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them,” it wasn’t far-fetched for me to imagine that the sons of gods were the Gods of Olympus and that the offspring they had with human women where the Greek legends like Achilles and Hedone. The more my mind wandered the more The Love Curse series formed.
And everyone knows, or should know, that you can’t write a story based on Greek Mythology and not have it centred on romance. I’d argue that mythology reflects the spirit of its people, and there is no mythology more romantic than Greek.
It is taught that humans were born with 2 heads, 4 arms and 4 legs, and only one soul, but Zeus feared our power and cut us apart. Now we spend our lives searching for the other half of our soul. There’s something really beautiful about this concept, and for a hopeless romantic like myself, the idea of soul mates and a love that has the power to unite two individuals so perfectly is something I can get behind. And I did, you’ll see in Arrowheart (The Love Curse #1) that my character Rachel feels this way too, which makes it suck extra that she can never have it, because if she so much as kisses a guy her power will take his will away. But that’s a story for another time…


Have you heard about Arrowheart?


Are you going to read it?


Let me know in the comments or on Twitter @LittleMemoirs with the tag #ARROWHEART! 


happy reading!

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Book Review: Puddin’ by Julie Murphy (Dumplin’, #2)

Title: Puddin’ (Dumplin’ #2)
Author: Julie Murphy
Published: May 8th, 2018
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Rating: ★★★★★
Find the Author: Goodreads 

Disclosure: I received this ARC in exchange for an impartial review. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.

It is a companion novel to Dumplin’, which follows supporting characters from the first book in the months after Willowdean’s star turn in the Clover City pageant. 
Millie Michalchuk has gone to fat camp every year since she was a girl. Not this year. This year she has new plans to chase her secret dream—and to kiss her crush. Callie Reyes is the pretty girl who is next in line for dance team captain and has the popular boyfriend. But when it comes to other girls, she’s more frenemy than friend. When circumstances bring the girls together over the course of a semester, they will surprise everyone (especially themselves) by realizing they might have more in common than they ever imagined.

First Thoughts…

It’s no secret that I absoultely adored Dumplin’ when I read it a staggering two years ago! It was one of my favourite reads that year and when I heard that they were making a movie about Willowdean, my heart skipped a beat! I am so glad they’re putting a Plus Size character on the big screen for a movie about her and not about the “thin best friend” trope that we get nowadays. I remember that Dumplin’ had resonated with me a lot because I’m also plus size, and I found that there was a lot of truth in those small moments we all take for granted when we don’t know that what we’re saying or doing can affect someone. 

My Review…

In the sequel to Dumplin’, there’s Puddin’. (Okay, does the title remind anyone else of Harley Quinn’s line?) It’s essentially a companion novel to the first that follows some of the supporting characters from the first book. We have these two main characters – Millie and Callie – and they’re quite different from each other. Millie is a sweetheart, super positive and just one of those people who would have made the best friend when I was growing up. I never had a friend like Millie at all, or ones that understood what it was like growing up bigger than the other girls. So when I read that Millie usually goes to fat camp every year, I was ready for a story about losing weight, but then, her plans change. She isn’t going to fat camp this year. She’s going to chase her dreams and kiss her crush. The thought that Millie had this confidence that I can only dream of was exhilarating. 

But then Millie meets Callie. Callie isn’t like Millie at all. She’s harder, tougher and some may say, prettier. Basically, I felt like she might have been the “mean girl” type. She’s next in line for the dance captain and her friends (or enemies) and even boyfriend, are all popular. So when she meets Millie? It’s not smooth sailing. They’re brought together during the semester, and then their layers start unveiling their own flaws, beliefs and common ground they have. (By the end, I was even starting to like Callie – a character who I never would have thought I could.)
I’m just utterly blown away each time I read something by Julie Murphy. I’m an avid collector of her novels and to this day, nothing quite makes my heart happy like feeling like I can gel with the characters in a book series that isn’t all about the fat girl losing weight. It’s about the fat girl getting her dreams. Because weight? It’s just weight. It shouldn’t define who you are. And Dumplin’ and now Puddin’, have both been examples of just how to write an incredible, empowering and 5-star worthy YA novel. So it goes without saying that this has been one of my favourite reads this year so far! Huge, huge love for this book (and for Julie!).

Julie Murphy is a potty-mouthed Southern belle who was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, but found her home in Fort Worth, Texas. She’s never seen Star Wars, but has yet to meet a made for TV movie she didn’t love. When she’s not writing, Julie can be found cruising Costco for free samples, watching Sister Act 2, stalking drag queens on instagram, obsessing over the logistics of Mars One, and forever searching for the perfect slice of cheese pizza. She lives with her bearded husband, two vicious cats, and one pomeranian that can pass as a bear cub. DUMPLIN’ is her second young adult novel.

Have you read Puddin’ or Dumplin’?


Let me know in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs!


happy reading!

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Blog Tour & Review: Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody

I’ve been dying to read Amanda’s Ace of Shades ever since I heard of her debut novel, Daughter of the Burning City. Getting to be on a Blog Tour for a book that I (spoiler) LOVED, is such a pleasure. So, welcome to the ACE OF SHADES Blog Tour Day One, read a little and let me know if you’re as big of a fan as I am now…

Title: Ace of Shades (The Shadow Game #1)
Author: Amanda Foody
Published: May 17th, 2018
Publisher: HQ Young Adult
Rating: 🐱🐱🐱🐱🐱
Find the Author: Goodreads 


Disclosure: I received this ARC in exchange for an impartial review. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.


ADD TO GOODREADS

Welcome to the City of Sin, where casino families reign, gangs infest the streets…and secrets hide in every shadow.
Enne Salta was raised as a proper young lady, and no lady would willingly visit New Reynes, the so-called City of Sin. But when her mother goes missing, Enne must leave her finishing school—and her reputation—behind to follow her mother’s trail to the city where no one survives uncorrupted.
Frightened and alone, her only lead is a name: Levi Glaisyer. Unfortunately, Levi is not the gentleman she expected—he’s a street lord and a con man. Levi is also only one payment away from cleaning up a rapidly unraveling investment scam, so he doesn’t have time to investigate a woman leading a dangerous double life. Enne’s offer of compensation, however, could be the solution to all his problems. 
Their search for clues leads them through glamorous casinos, illicit cabarets and into the clutches of a ruthless mafia donna. As Enne unearths an impossible secret about her past, Levi’s enemies catch up to them, ensnaring him in a vicious execution game where the players always lose. To save him, Enne will need to surrender herself to the city…
And she’ll need to play.

First Thoughts…

Ace of Shades was all over my Instagram, my Twitter…my everything for so long, that I was painfully anticipating getting to hold it in my hands for myself. I thought I’d have to wait until release day with the huge following of Amanda’s books, but when HQ YA offered a Blog Tour slot, I jumped, of course. It was never even a question! I started reading this as an eBook and then finished off with the Paperback after it arrived following the Bank Holiday mail delay (can we just have mail every day?!).

My Review…

I haven’t read a book quite like this in a very long time, so getting into the Fantasy landscape, introductions to the characters and rules of this new world, took some time. But in that time, I had been pulled into the pages and absorbed by the intricate plot that Amanda had woven ahead of me. Enne, our main character, is what I’d call a proper character, aka totally fancy. She’s straight-laced, knows what she’s doing, is more or less a lady in all senses. So she shouldn’t be in New Reynes, right? It’s the City of Sin, so no lady would be there just for the heck of it. But she’s on a mission. Her mother has gone missing, and after the allotted time of her anticipated return passes by, Enne knows she has to find her, one way or another. 
But her journey leads her to Levi Glaisyer, a street lord and all-round con man, far from the people she’s used to surrounding herself with. Still, they find that they’re each other’s only hope, sort of. Levi is in a pickle himself, as well, and helping Enne could reimburse him to solve his own problem. But the journey of delving into Enne’s mother’s disappearance is far from easy, and it’s rocky at best. Glamour masqueraded casinos, still cut-throat and on the verge of enemies, their search leads them to an incredible secret that shocks Enne’s world to the core, unveiling a piece of herself she didn’t know existed. Levi still can’t stay out of trouble, though, and it’s up to Enne to sacrifice herself and her values to save him and regain the upper hand in the City of Sin.
Overall, Ace of Shades is a rule-breaking, fast-paced read with killer instincts and lively characters, set against a backdrop I could picture and sense from the get-go. Amanda has written such a detailed, gripping YA novel that I just know is going to be loved by every reader it makes a home with. Huge, huge love for this novel. Consider me a newfound fan and anticipating the next installment with an edge-of-my-seat awaiting move. Five stars! What else would I give it?!
You can buy ACE OF SHADES:
Amazon | Waterstones | Book Depository 

Have you read Ace of Shades? Are you looking forward to it?


Check out the other tour dates today and let me know in the comments!


happy reading!

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