The Little Mermaid

A beautifully illustrated new translation of a beloved Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale

Six young sisters live in the depths of the ocean, longing for the chance to see the beauty of the earth. Most eager of all is the youngest mermaid, who counts the days to her fifteenth birthday when her grandmother will finally allow her to rise to the surface.

Her first sight above the water is a large ship on which a beautiful prince is celebrating his sixteenth birthday. Immediately she falls in love, and so begins her determined quest to join the prince on earth as a human.

Full of wonder and heart, The Little Mermaid remains one of the most powerful fairy tales ever written, and this new, gorgeously illustrated translation gives it renewed life.

Review

I recieved a free copy via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

First off, the cover is beautiful. This is the same book just new illistrations. I have not read the original before. It was a little different than the disney version. A little crueller, but I liked it. It was a quick read and no gore, maybe not suitable for really youung kids, but it’s aimed at kids who would be old enough to read it themselves anyway.

I liked the illustrations although  there weren’t many. The tin soldier on the end was a little odd but I grew up with stories that all had happy endings.

Over all a sweet little read with nice illustrations.

4 out of 5 stars

Mage Shifter (#3 Magical Creatures Academy)

Rina has lost her shifting mojo.
Will her mage powers be enough to subdue Rage and Fury?

Mage Shifter is the third book in an exciting new magic-filled urban fantasy, starring a girl with lots of moxie, fine brawny shifters, BFFs with questionable morals, and pygmy trolls in need of an attitude adjustment.

Review

I loved getting to the ending of this series, I really enjoyed this series. It’s a nice quick easy read but full of magic and wonder.

Rina is once again a great character. She is definately growing and becoming her own person. She grows into her magic well and I really enjoyed reading about it.

There wasn’t much interaction between Rina and her brother Ky in this book and I missed it. I also missed the silent Boone, he was barely in it.

The incident at the beginning felt a little irresponisble on the teachers part (even for a school for magic), but it did help the story along. Also the three boys just turning up seemed a little easy, characters should not be able to luck themselves out of a situation.

Rina is a little niave but she is not dumb so I do like her creative ways to get out of things.

4 out of 5 stars

Want to start at the beginning, read book 1.

ARC Review: Fledgling

Days away from becoming completing her first year at Miss Castwell’s Institute for the Magical Instruction of Young Ladies, Changeling-born Sarah Smith might just get away with posing as an upper-class Guardian girl named Cassandra Reed.

But strange visions of a Lightbourne destroyed by Miss Morton’s revenant army keep Sarah from enjoying her achievement. Plus, the Mother Book, Sarah’s one secret advantage and the ultimate entrée in Guardian society, suddenly stops revealing itself to her…putting her in a precarious position with the Guild. On top of all that, her former lady’s maid left Miss Castwell’s, and the new hire is, well, taking some getting used to.

If it weren’t for her two best friends, Alicia McCray and Ivy Cowel, who will do anything to protect her secret, Sarah doesn’t know if she’ll make it another year. When the three girls take summer holiday with Alicia’s family (chaperoned by an exacting and very disapproving Mrs. McCray), a relaxing vacation in Scotland is the last thing they’ll find.

Mrs. Winter is thrilled that Sarah is spending time with the influential McCray family, but Sarah can’t help but feel that her real purpose is to find other Changeling children like her, and free them to realize their own magic. Can she find genuine satisfaction in her accomplishments when she knows there are others like her out there who need her help? Will the three girls uncover the deeply-held secrets they’re looking for in the mysterious mountains of Scotland? Will the Mother Book finally start talking to her again? And will Sarah come to understand the importance of her connection with Ivy and Alicia, and the true nature of her own power…before it’s too late?

Review

I recieved a free copy via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love the friendship between the three girls it’s so genuine. Sarah is a bit of a matyr  and that does bug me a little, but it gives Ivy and Alicia a chance to prove their friendship.

Gavin, I would have liked a little more depth to his character, hopefully in the next book. I think he could be an amazing character and give Sarah the strength she will most likely need in the next book.

Mrs Winter keeps surprising me! She is a great character and I do hope she appears more in the next book. I would her to realise there that magic no matter where from is a good thing. I think she is really capable of this without it feeling jarring. I love how she is taking to Sarah, as Sarah and not just Cassandra.

The Mother book- Oh how? I hope this issure can be resolved in some way, no idea how, but that’s Molly Harper’s job.

I did guess the big reveal happen in some form, but I didn’t get it dead on. I do wish it was explained in a little more detail.

Overall it was a great read.

4 out of 5 stars

Review: Changeling (Sorcery and Society #1)

If 14-year-old Cassandra Reed makes it through her first day at Miss Castwell’s Institute for the Magical Instruction of Young Ladies without anyone discovering her secret, maybe, just maybe, she’ll let herself believe that she really does belong at Miss Castwell’s.

Except Cassandra Reed’s real name is Sarah Smith and up until now, she lived her whole life in the Warren, serving a magical family, the Winters, as all non-magical “Snipes” are bound by magical Guardian law to do. That is, until one day, Sarah accidentally levitates Mrs. Winter’s favorite vase in the parlor…

But Snipes aren’t supposed to have magical powers…and the existence of a magical Snipe threatens the world order dictated during the Guardians’ Restoration years ago. If she wants to keep her family safe and protect her own skin, Sarah must figure out how to fit into posh Guardian society, master her newfound magical powers and discover the truth about how an ordinary girl can become magical.

Review

I recieved a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Let’s start by saying I loved this book. It was magical all the way through. I read it in two days. For me that’s quick when I am working.

It started off really good, the setting was wonderful. I like how it progressed. You learned about the magic system as Sarah (Cassandra) did. The school sounded wonderful, I would have liked more lessons,  I think we saw one and that’s it. Maybe in the next book. There was also a few inconstistancies, but since I was reading a (well over due) netgalley review book I am not letting this affect my review.

The characters were good, the insta friendships bothered me a little but the rest of the book was enough to make up for it. The mother book was a very interesting concept. I do wish there was a few more things explained about it. Don’t want to say what in case I spoil anything.

The whole age thing bothered me slightly now when we were first introduced to Owen I thought he was 19 upwards which would make sense how Mary has been pining over him for years. But it turns out he was 14 and Mary is what 16? A little creepy but I just went with it.

All the things I found wrong were slight and didn’t really spoil me reading. I have already started book two, very much looking forward to seeing where it leads.

4.5 stars out of 5

First Flight (Dragon School #1)

Join Dragon School. Learn to Fly.

Sixteen-year-old Amel arrived at Dragon School just like everyone else – with a dream to ride dragons and join the Dominion Dragon Riders.

But Amel has a crippled leg and Dragon School training is grueling. Before she can even become an initiate, she must complete her First Flight on a dragon.

Can Amel survive First Flight and become a Dragon School initiate or will her dreams dash on the rocks below?

Review

This was a sweet entry the world of Dragon school. I like Amel but in my opinion she focused on her disabilty a little too much. I did like enthusiasm and steel. The dragons were cool and I look forward to getting to know more about them. Especially the purple one.

I am not sure about the other students, they seem quite mean with not much substance. I am looking forward to see what they bring to the table in the next book.

It’s a quick read of only just over 100pages. It’s a young adult book, so a fairly easy read. But well worth it.

4 out of 5 stars

City of Brass (Daevabad Trilogy #1)

Nahri has never believed in magic. Certainly, she has power; on the streets of 18th century Cairo, she’s a con woman of unsurpassed talent. But she knows better than anyone that the trade she uses to get by—palm readings, zars, healings—are all tricks, sleights of hand, learned skills; a means to the delightful end of swindling Ottoman nobles.

But when Nahri accidentally summons an equally sly, darkly mysterious djinn warrior to her side during one of her cons, she’s forced to accept that the magical world she thought only existed in childhood stories is real. For the warrior tells her a new tale: across hot, windswept sands teeming with creatures of fire, and rivers where the mythical marid sleep; past ruins of once-magnificent human metropolises, and mountains where the circling hawks are not what they seem, lies Daevabad, the legendary city of brass?a city to which Nahri is irrevocably bound.

In that city, behind gilded brass walls laced with enchantments, behind the six gates of the six djinn tribes, old resentments are simmering. And when Nahri decides to enter this world, she learns that true power is fierce and brutal. That magic cannot shield her from the dangerous web of court politics. That even the cleverest of schemes can have deadly consequences.

After all, there is a reason they say be careful what you wish for…

Review

I don’t know what made me pick this book up in waterstones, it’s not my usual kind of book. But I am so glad I did, this book had me hooked very early on. I loved the setting, and how they transitioned for one to another. Even given all the conflicts I would love to be able to visit Daevabad. Nahri was a great main character, she was sassy and adapted well. She did not give up on her goals easily and was always looking out for herself.

I have read reviews saying this book is slow. Whilst there is not action on every page it does flow well gives a lot of depth and world building to the story (but not too much in my opinion). I did get confused a few times at the different factions, but I was reading this after long shifts so that might have had something to do with it, (so not going to hold it against the book).

Ali was also a great character, he gave a different side to the story and the dynamics of Daevabad. I thought his views were interesting if not a little niave for his station. It was good to see how he grew throughout the book though.

Dara I was unsure what to make of him, he seemed to change a few times throughout the book and I could not work out which was the real Dara. I am looking forward to see what else we can find out about his history in the next book.

Overall I realy enjoyed this book and am very much looking forward to reading the next one. It is sitting on my coffee table waiting paitenly for me to finish a few ARC’s before diving in.

4 out of 5 stars

ARC Review: Bring me their hearts

Zera is a Heartless – the immortal, unageing soldier of a witch. Bound to the witch Nightsinger ever since she saved her from the bandits who murdered her family, Zera longs for freedom from the woods they hide in. With her heart in a jar under Nightsinger’s control, she serves the witch unquestioningly.

Until Nightsinger asks Zera for a Prince’s heart in exchange for her own, with one addendum; if she’s discovered infiltrating the court, Nightsinger will destroy her heart rather than see her tortured by the witch-hating nobles.

Crown Prince Lucien d’Malvane hates the royal court as much as it loves him – every tutor too afraid to correct him and every girl jockeying for a place at his darkly handsome side. No one can challenge him – until the arrival of Lady Zera. She’s inelegant, smart-mouthed, carefree, and out for his blood. The Prince’s honor has him quickly aiming for her throat.

So begins a game of cat and mouse between a girl with nothing to lose and a boy who has it all.

Winner takes the loser’s heart.

Literally.

Review

I recieved a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of this book was awesome, it took a really interesting premise popular in fairytale retellings, although this is not a retelling. It take the idea of someone losing their heart and it being put in a jar and still being alive. It was very cleverly done and it kept unfolding mysteries and facts that kept me interested the whole way through.

Zera was a great main character. She was fun, sassy, and loyal, yet staying true to herself. The Prince was fun, I liked discovering the many sides of him, I loved his interactions with Zera, how he said one thing but obviously means another. The bodyguard was probably my favourite character, he is so funny and clearly very loyal to the Prince.

The setting was really clever and the history mentioned throughout was really interesting. All the characters were great although sometimes it was hard to work out their motivations.

The ending felt a little rushed, this was only an issue because the rest of the book was perfectly paced. Also the end, wow, I did not see that coming at all. I cannot wait for the next book.

4 out of 5 stars

Reread Review: Touch of Frost

My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy; a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody’s head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest. But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I’m determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why; especially since I should have been the one who died…

Original Review

I enjoyed this, it took a little while to get into it. I found some of the writing a little annoying, sometimes the main character would find something and not know who it belongs to then describe it as his or hers, may have been an error, but happened a few too many times, and it was really annoying. Other than that the story was really good, it had lots of myths and legends in it. The characters were good, the plot was enjoyable, if not a little predictable. I worked out what would happen just before half way through. Gwen was an interesting character who learned as we did, she was new to the school, and did not believe most of what she was taught. The story progressed well, I loved some of the other characters, I liked how Gwen made friends and her Gran is probably my favourite character. I am looking forward to the next one in the series.

Four Stars out of five

Reread Review

I didn’t find any errors this times, either they updated it or I just didn’t notice this time. I still loved Gwen and the other characters. I liked Daphne more this time round, probably because I knew what she was really like. I could remember the main story but not smaller parts, it was really good to rediscover them. I am looking forward to rereading the rest of the series too.

ARC Review: A Jot of Blood

Adolescence is hard enough, but add magic to the mix and things have a way of getting complicated in a hurry. Even at Coventry Academy, one of the best schools in the world for the magically inclined, some ‘gifts’ mean nothing but trouble. What do you do when anything—your clothes, your food, the accidental brush of a fingertip—can instantly reveal the dark secrets of your closest friend … or, worse, a mortal enemy?

Coventry may have been Lire Devon’s haven since she was a little girl, but there are some who despise and even fear her rare clairvoyant power. Now, after years of simmering resentment, Lire’s nemesis, a sorceress with beauty, status, and well-connected friends, has thrown down the gauntlet. The challenge will push Lire’s resourcefulness to its limits and beyond—to a place where arcane dangers lurk and the price of power is knowledge too excruciating to bear.

Warning: The contents of this book include one surly werewolf, a snarky invisible prankster, and enough indelicate language to make a succubus blush.

Review

This was very different than  I expected. I also enjoyed it much more than I was expecting. I really like Lire as a character, she was fun, grew well as a character. Cal and Zach were great too, I loved their introduction, it was fun and unique. I really enjoyed finding out about the different kinds of magic. I thought the way Lire learned more about her powers was well done and has got me wondering what else she can do.

The mystery was good, it kept twisting and turning, keeping me guessing. I want to know more though, I want to know more, I am very much looking forward to the next book. The conflict between Lire and the popular girl (cannot remember her name) was interesting, seemed like jealousy on the popular girls part.

Cal, was a great character, I can see him being a very popular book love interest. He is strong and fun and a great friend. And yes he sounds like a catch.

I will be reading the next book in the series. And raving about this book to anyone who will listen.

Want a book with magic, werewolves, vampires, fun, excitement and a lot of mystery, go on pick this up you won’t be disappointed.

4 out of 5 stars

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R4R Review: S.T.A.G.S.

Nine students. Three bloodsports. One deadly weekend.

It is the autumn term and Greer MacDonald is struggling to settle into the sixth form at the exclusive St. Aidan the Great boarding school, known to its privileged pupils as S.T.A.G.S. Just when she despairs of making friends Greer receives a mysterious invitation with three words embossed upon on it: huntin’ shootin’ fishin’. When Greer learns that the invitation is to spend the half term weekend at the country manor of Henry de Warlencourt, the most popular and wealthy boy at S.T.A.G.S., she is as surprised as she is flattered.

But when Greer joins the other chosen few at the ancient and sprawling Longcross Hall, she realises that Henry’s parents are not at home; the only adults present are a cohort of eerily compliant servants. The students are at the mercy of their capricious host, and, over the next three days, as the three bloodsports – hunting, shooting and fishing – become increasingly dark and twisted, Greer comes to the horrifying realisation that those being hunted are not wild game, but the very misfits Henry has brought with him from school…

Review

I thought this was a fascinating book. It’s a mystery book with a difference. You know who was murdered and who by just not the how or why. Greer is a good main character but is a little naive at times especially when it comes to boys. I thought the plot was good, maybe a few holes but very interesting and well put together. The suspense was well done and kept me guessing throughout the  whole book. The characters were fun and interesting and had good growth.

The ending wasn’t my favourite it left too many holes and unanswered questions, if it had just stopped a chapter before it would have been so much better. But overall it was a good exciting book and a nice quick read.

4 out of 5 stars