Category: 4 Stars

Mini Reviews – A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik, Nothing More to Tell by Karen McManus and Sixteen Souls by Rosie Talbot

Posted November 14, 2022 by Emma in 2022 Books, 4 Stars, 4.5 Stars, 5 Stars, Book Review, Bookish Post, Mini-Review, UKYA, YA / 2 Comments

Hellooooooooo my lovely bookworms. The last time I posted was middle of the summer and now it’s Autumn. Bring on the cosy nights of reading with blankets, slipper boots and autumn drinks. I’m sorry it’s been so long , neglecting my blog, something I absolutely love, but since I went back to work, it’s just been extremely busy. But I’m back slowly. I’ve trying to be more organised and forward planning some content as well.

Whilst I may have been absent, I haven’t stopped reading even if it has been a chapter or 2 a day, I still reading so I thought I would do some mini reviews of some of the books I’ve loved recently. There hasn’t been a bad one yet.

First up it’s

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

Mini Reviews – A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik, Nothing More to Tell by Karen McManus and Sixteen Souls by Rosie TalbotA Deadly Education (The Scholomance, #1) by Naomi Novik
Series: The Scholomance #1
Published by Del Rey on September 29, 2020
Genres: Fantasy & Magic
Amazon | Book Depository | Waterstones
Goodreads

From the leading talent in fantasy, a magical coming-of-age trilogy with a hilarious female anti-hero - a darker more intelligent Harry Potter for adults.
In the start of an all-new series, the bestselling author of Uprooted and Spinning Silver introduces you to a dangerous school for the magically gifted where failure means certain death - until one girl begins to rewrite its rules. Enter a school of magic unlike any you have ever encountered.
There are no teachers, no holidays, friendships are purely strategic, and the odds of survival are never equal.Once you're inside, there are only two ways out: you graduate or you die.El Higgins is uniquely prepared for the school's many dangers. She may be without allies, but she possesses a dark power strong enough to level mountains and wipe out untold millions - never mind easily destroy the countless monsters that prowl the school. Except, she might accidentally kill all the other students, too. So El is trying her hardest not to use it... that is, unless she has no other choice.
Wry, witty, endlessly inventive, and mordantly funny - yet with a true depth and fierce justice at its heart - this enchanting novel reminds us that there are far more important things than mere survival.

Perfect for readers who loved Katherine Arden’s writing with a similar taste to Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo.

This is a series I have been meaning to read for some time. Ever since loving Katherine Arden books, The Bear and the Nightingale, Naomi has been a constant recommednation. I can’t believe I’ve waited till now to read it. I was very lucky to be able to attend blogger event for the final book The Golden Enclaves, I even managed to escape spoilers. I am very good at that. Haha.

Deadly Education has the most intense, unique world building that I’ve ever come across. I think that’s what really stood out for. I think the magical system of the Scholomance is so intricate and complex that I loved it. It felt more organic of the world we live in that naomi wanted to create a Natural magical system. What I also loved was El and Orion’s relationship. It’s hard not too, Orion is set to the person who wants to save everyone, but El hate being saved. It’s almost this enemies to lovers/chosen one/destined toegther tropes mixed into one.

Perfect for readers who loved Katherine Arden’s writing with a similar taste to Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo.

Nothing More to Tell by Karen McManus

Mini Reviews – A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik, Nothing More to Tell by Karen McManus and Sixteen Souls by Rosie TalbotNothing More to Tell by Karen M. McManus
Published by Penguin on September 1, 2022
Genres: Murder, Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult Fiction
Amazon | Book Depository | Waterstones
Goodreads

From the internationally bestselling author of Netflix's hottest new show, One of Us is Lying, comes a new, page-turning thriller . . .
True crime can leave a false trail.
Four years ago, Brynn left Saint Ambrose School following the shocking murder of her favourite teacher. The case was never solved, but she's sure that the three kids who found Mr. Larkin's body know more than they're telling, especially her ex-best friend Tripp Talbot. He's definitely hiding something.
When Brynn gets an internship working on a popular true-crime show, she decides to investigate what really happened that day in the woods. But the further she dives into the past, the more secrets she finds.
Four years ago someone got away with murder. Now it's time to uncover the truth . . .

Who doesn’t love when the Queen of YA thriller releases a new book. This came out early in bookshops and I grabbed it and read it straight away. I mean that never happens with me. It usually stays on the bookshelf for a month at least. 😅

I throughly enjoyed this book. Mystery books are my slumping solution and I was close to one as I was going back to work that week. Karen McManus has a way of creating thrilling storylines, easy to read that kept you guessing till the end. This particular one focused on Brynn interviewing for a true crime show with the pitch to solve the mysterious death of her favourite teacher in high school. I always love how Karen write’s her MCs to have so much gumption too.

If you loved her other books or Holly Jackson’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder then you will really enjoy this one.

Sixteen Souls by Rosie Talbot

Mini Reviews – A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik, Nothing More to Tell by Karen McManus and Sixteen Souls by Rosie TalbotSixteen Souls by Rosie Talbot
Published by Rosie Talbot on October 13, 2022
Genres: Horror, LGBTQ+, Mystery
Amazon | Book Depository | Waterstones
Goodreads

In haunted York, even the dead have something to fear.
Sixteen-year-old Charlie has problems. He’s a seer-of-spirits in York, the most haunted city in Europe, and all his friends are ghosts. His sisters have glittered his prosthesis, again, and his crush is dating someone new.
On top of that, famous spirits are mysteriously vanishing from York’s alleys and snickleways. Charlie is determined to stay out of it, but Sam, the irritating new seer in town, expects him to track down who – or what – is responsible and uncover the dark purpose behind the disappearances.
When a ghost Charlie is indebted to also vanishes, he has no choice but to face the shadows. And his growing feelings for Sam. The boys must be willing to risk it all to save York’s spirits, because their adversary will stop at nothing to complete their devastating plan. Afterlives are at stake, and Charlie is running out of time…
With echoes of Anna Dressed in Blood, The Fell of Dark and Cemetery Boys, Rosie Talbot’s debut is an irrefutable must-have for all YA bookshelves.

UKYA Debut Author Rosie Talbot brings a new voice to horror books with unique plotlines and diverse characters. It was unputtadownable!

As soon as you start reading the first page, the atmosphere of it and world building is just perfect for this season! 👻 Our main character is Charlie who died for 45 minutes, when he came back to life he could see ghosts. He’s a seer and the only one like him until he meets Sam! But something is a miss with ghosts going missing and together they have to find what’s really going on.

Sixteen Souls ticks all the boxes, with identity, friendship and family. It’s also my first YA book with a disabled rep, which I thought Rosie wrote so well. You grow attached to some ghosts as well! I’d almost love a side book just for those too stories.

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

Happy Reading,

Emma

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📚 REVIEW – SLAY by Kim Curran

📚 REVIEW – SLAY by Kim Curran

SLAYby Kim CurranPublisher – Usborne PublishingRelease Date – May 3rd 2018Buy – Amazon | Book Depository Meet SLAY – SLAY do two things and they do them well: they play killer music and they slay killer demons. When Milly, the lonely daughter of a world-famous opera singer, arrives home to discover that her mum has been taken over by something very evil, she finds herself in mortal danger. But the last people she expects to rescue her are the hottest boy band on the planet… Enter SLAY: playing kickass gigs in the spotlight, and saving the world from demons in […]

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📚 REVIEW – I STOP SOMEWHERE by T.E. Carter

Posted April 30, 2018 by Emma in 4 Stars, Book Review, Contemporary, T.E.Carter / 0 Comments
📚 REVIEW – I STOP SOMEWHERE by T.E. Carter

I Stop Somewhereby T.E. CarterPublisher – Simon & Schuster Release Date – 19th April 2018Buy – Amazon | Book DepositoryEllie Frias disappeared long before she vanished. Tormented throughout middle school, she begins her freshman year with new clothes, new hair, and a plan: she doesn’t need to be popular, she just needs to blend in with the wallpaper. It’s a lonely existence, but at least no one’s tripping her in the halls. In fact, no one notices her at all. Until Caleb Breward, tells her she’s beautiful and makes her believe it. Ellie loves Caleb, but sometimes she doesn’t like him […]

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📚RELEASE DAY REVIEW – NOT IF I SAVE YOU FIRST by Ally Carter

📚RELEASE DAY REVIEW – NOT IF I SAVE YOU FIRST by Ally Carter

Not If I Save You First by Ally CarterPublisher – Orchard BooksRelease Date – March 27th 2018Buy – Amazon | Book Depository Dear Logan,Someday I’m going to write a book: How Not to Die in Alaska – A Girl’s Guide to Fashionable Survival.I bet you don’t know that a hair pin can make an excellent fishing hook. You may think you can use just any kind of mud for mud masks, but trust me, you CAN’T! In a pinch, nothing starts a fire like nail polish remover. Alaska is tough. You might know this, if you ever replied to my letters. […]

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📚 ARC REVIEW – TO KILL A KINGDOM by Alexandra Christo

📚 ARC REVIEW – TO KILL A KINGDOM by Alexandra Christo

To Kill a Kingdomby Alexandra ChristoPublisher – Hot Key BooksRelease Date – 8th March 2018Buy – Amazon | Book Depository Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human […]

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📚REVIEW – THE FANDOM by Anna Day

📚REVIEW – THE FANDOM by Anna Day

The Fandomby Anna DayPublisher – Chicken HouseRelease Day – January 4th 2018Buy – Amazon | Book Depository Cosplay ready, Violet and her friends are at Comic-Con. They can’t wait to meet the fandom of mega movie, The Gallows Dance. What they’re not expecting is to be catapulted by freak accident into their favourite world – for real. Fuelled by love, guilt and fear, can the friends put the plot back on track and get out? The fate of the story is in their hands … A fast-paced, genre-flipping YA fantasy adventure from a brand new author, writing in homage to […]

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