Category: 2019 Books

Book Review | Seafire by Natalie C. Parker

Posted June 15, 2020 by Emma in 2019 Books, 2020 books, Book Review, Girl Power, YA / 0 Comments

Happy Monday my lovely readers! I’m back, I kind of had a bit of a blogging break the last week as I just needed the time for me. I haven’t been reading very much these days and had no enthusiasm to blog. Today I’m ready to get back into the swing of blogging again. I’m bringing you a review of a kick-ass feminist fantasy novel. I loved it and the sequel is coming out next month. So I hope you enjoy it.

Book Review | Seafire by Natalie C. ParkerSeafire by Natalie C. Parker
Published by Usborne Publishing on August 8, 2019
Genres: Fantasy
Amazon | Book Depository | Waterstones
Goodreads

High seas, high stakes… and high time for revenge

Caledonia Styx let down her guard once - and her family were murdered by ruthless warlord Aric Athair and his blood-thirsty Bullets. Now captain of a crew of girls who have lost everything to the Bullets, she has sworn never to show mercy again.

But when a rogue Bullet saves the life of Caledonia's best friend, she faces an impossible choice. If she lets the boy live, could he help them bring down Athair - or will he destroy them all?

 

 

My Review

At a very young age, Caledonia was sent on her first mission by her mother, but she got played the enemy of the seas, they call themselves, the Bullets specifically Aric Athair. Caledonia blamed herself for the death and destruction of her mother and all those on the ship . She and her best friend, Pisces were the only survivors. Now, four years later, she is captain of a crew girls, she will lead and guide these girls across the seas. The Bullets terrorise the seas, and Caledonia has had enough of their ruling. Until, one rogue Bullet saved her best friend’s life and is onboard Mors Navis. If it’s taught Caledonia anything she will never trust a Bullet ever again, but at the cost of revenge. There are high stakes ahead and impossible choices.

Caledonia has a tough skin on her. She survived a blade to stomach and nothing and no one will stand in her way. She is the fiercest and probably the only captain to take down such a force as the Bullets. Her passion for revenge is not always a good thing though. Caledonia is consumed by the secret that set her on this path.  So whilst she appears to be the al-mighty leader of the seas, you certainly get this impression that she is only just human as well. I think that’s why I loved these characters that Natalie created. Yes, we perceive them to be fierce and heroic, which they are, but Caledonia is a flawed character that has to learn a lot about herself, her leadership, and the loyalty to her crew, her family, her sisters.

The Mors Navis ship has the fiercest and finest girls in YA fantasy and such an inclusive set of secondary characters, her crew, really made the novel. Pieces – second in command, Redtooth – the muscle, Amina – the inventor, Lace – the helm girl & commanding the bridge, and little Hime, a healer and a former Bullet. Caledonia can’t complain that she has built her crew on loyalty and trust on essence of her mother’s ship Ghost. I think the story would be so good if we could get more POVs and their story especially Little Hime and Amina who were my favourite.

This is my first book written by Natalie C. Parker and her writing is honestly movie quality. You can quite clearly envision these words to become a box office hit. I love a book that has such a rich and vibrant world building of the seas. The ending especially had all the feels and I can’t wait to read Steeltide. Without a doubt there is never a dull moment. You are constantly thrown into the eye of the Bullet storm and all you can do is keep on reading.

If your a fan of Viper and Venom by Bex Hogan then you will love this book! You know I am and very rarely do you find a pirate adventure quite like these. Seafire, is like a futuristic YA adventure which brought a unique twist to a YA fantasy. With an all female pirate cast, it’s like all your favourite female superhero banded together on the treacherous seas. A fierce feminst YA fantasy of a pirate crew out for revenge.

Thank you to Usborne for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Divider

December Monthly Wrap-Up | Final wrap-up post of 2019

December Monthly Wrap-Up | Final wrap-up post of 2019

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! Today is officially the 1st day of 2020, and 2019 is now last year even though it was only yesterday. Crazy. Whilst I thought I would go right ahead and do my anticipated reads and reading goals, I thought I would wrap-up last year officially with my last wrap up post of 2019. December was a brilliant month, full of festivities at work and at home and then finally spend Christmas with my family. The beginning of the month was very chaotic, as you can probably imagine in all working environments. In a school it’s almost […]

Divider

BLOG TOUR | REVIEW – Love, Secret Santa by S. A. Domingo

Posted December 19, 2019 by Emma in 2019 Books, Blog Tour, Book Review, Romance, Team Bkmrk / 0 Comments
BLOG TOUR | REVIEW – Love, Secret Santa by S. A. Domingo

Hello my bookish friends, Today I’m really excited to be part of the Love, Secret Santa S. A. Domingo blog tour with Team BKMRK. It’s also fitting that I will be also receiving my secret santa today on the last day of term. I will be sharing my 5 star review of this wonderfully festive YA that will certainly get you in the Christmas mood. AND I have a surprise piece from the wonderful author herself. But before my review here is a little bit more about the book. My Review Angel Green just wants to revise for her scholarship […]

Divider

MINI-REVIEW MONDAY | Take a Chance on Me by Beth Garrod and No Big Deal by Bethany Rutter

Posted December 16, 2019 by Emma in 2019 Books, Book Review, UKYA, YA / 0 Comments
MINI-REVIEW MONDAY | Take a Chance on Me by Beth Garrod and No Big Deal by Bethany Rutter

Hello my bookish friends! I borrowed this idea from Emily (A Short Book Lover) who regularly does this feature to catch up on her reviews. As we are nearing the end of the year I’m trying to catch up on any reviews I missed throughout the year. Today I’m bringing two amazing YA contemporary books that I read back in the summer. During that time I was loving reading but my blogging took a bit of a break. So I apologise for taking so long in reviewing these books. So onto the mini reviews. In the first few chapters, Meg […]

Divider

November Monthly Wrap-Up

Posted December 2, 2019 by Emma in 2019 Books, Bookish Post, Monthly Wrap-Up Post, TBR / 2 Comments
November Monthly Wrap-Up

Hi Everyone, it’s the 2nd December, the LAST MONTH of 2019! How is that possible? I mean it’s seriously crazy how time flies, I personally hate it. I think it goes more quickly when I work in a school as you are constantly counting down the days until the next half term holiday. Just to let you know that’s in 17 days. 🧡 Nothing much happened in November for me. It was a busy month in terms of work and I didn’t read much whatsoever. Got some great books and bought loads but the ratio of my book haul to […]

Divider

BOOK REVIEW | A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

Posted November 28, 2019 by Emma in 2019 Books, Book Review, Fantasy, Favourite Author, Featured, YA / 1 Comment
BOOK REVIEW | A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

You might have seen from my post last week that I was taking part in the Global #Cursebreakers Readalong . It is my first time reading it if you can believe that. Why I didn’t get on this fandom this year was the hype and I’ve really been trying to be mood reader too. Now was the time, the perfect season and cosy nights to just to escape into Emberfall. Right now, as I’m writing this, I’ve just finished it and I’m a little hangover from it. In once sense I want to continue to A Heart So Fierce and […]

Divider

EMMA CHATS… | A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer – #CurseReadAlong: Week 1

EMMA CHATS… | A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer – #CurseReadAlong: Week 1

Emma Chats… returns. I thought over the few weeks I’d talk about what I’m taking part in. One of 2019s fandoms has been A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer. I have to say it’s one book I wanted to read since I received it back in February, but with hype and mood, it never happened until now. YOU DIDN’T TELL ME HOW AMAZING THIS BOOK IS!!!??? (or did I not listen!?) So I’m taking part in the GLOBAL read along that Bloomsbury YA are hosting, each week we are reading 20 chapters (or so!?) I’m actually sticking to the readalong […]

Divider

Book Review | A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

Posted November 11, 2019 by Emma in 2019 Books, Book Review, Favourites, Feature, UKYA, YA / 2 Comments
Book Review | A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

Hi Everyone, Happy Monday it’s been a while since I last written a review, I think I’ve got a bit rusty. I have to admit something as well…I read this back at the end of May and I’m only reviewing it now. But the amazing thing about this book is that I still remember it. Doesn’t that tell you something?! I hope you enjoy my review and let me know if you’ve read it or any amazing murder mysteries I should read.  So I’m going to admit something here. I read this back at the end of May and I’m […]

Divider

Emma chats…| Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden |

Emma chats…| Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden |

*CAUTION this post may contain fangirling. Hello my bookish friends. Happy Wednesday. You are half-way through the week, yay. I’m going on holiday on Saturday so I can’t wait to get to the end of the week. Thank you so much to everyone who commented on my earlier post on Book Blogging pressures. It’s really nice to see I’m not the only one. Today’s post, ‘Emma chats…’ is the start of something new for my blog, to bring back my enjoyment of blogging and love it once again.  This idea came to me only yesterday, I wanted something I could […]

Divider