GIRLS WITH SHARP STICKS by Suzanne Young

Girls with Sharp Sticks by Suzanne Young

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a book that caught my eye a few weeks ago. First I noticed the cover, then the title, and by the time I'd read the blurb, I knew it was something I would be interested in.

I'm a sucker for dystopian books about girls written by women because, although these kind of tales are bleak, the characters turn the narrative into strength and love. The fear lights a fire within them, one that puts them in motion until they end up risking everything for the freedom to be what every girl and woman deserves: the ability to be themselves and be recognised as a person.

So when I found it on the shelves during the new library opening last weekend, I had to borrow it. I'm really glad I did because it's amazing.

Mena attends an exclusive all-girl private school in the middle of nowhere. It's far from town and hidden near the picturesque mountains.

Innovations Academy is run by an all-male staff, all very eager to teach these students how to be better, proper girls for their investors. The girls are happy and willing to please, until dark secrets about the school start to surface...

OMFG. This book is brilliant. Absolutely brilliant! It's as disturbing as it is interesting. As infuriating as it is intriguing. And Mena's POV, as well as the writing style, hooked me in and kept me glued to the pages.

I seriously couldn't put it down. Didn't want to.

As soon as I started reading, the air of malice surrounding these poor girls is obvious and filled me with fear, for them. Shortly followed by rage, because the more I read, the more I started figuring out what was going on. And all I wanted was to see these girls succeed in finding themselves and being able to find their own path.

This story raises a lot of other issues because it doesn't just deal with the obvious imprisonment and control of girls. But I can't go into that without giving away the shocking secrets that are better found out while reading this very cool book.

I loved the characters in this book. Especially the girls. Their sense of sisterhood, and the way they love and support each other is so awesome I loved every minute of their interactions. The way they trust one another and are willing to do whatever it takes to stay together just solidified my appreciation for this story.

There are a lot of other unexpected things that happen. For starters, it's quite violent. And very bloody. Not to mention that all of these kinds of books are horror tales of the worst kind.

I've seen this book compared to a lot of obvious titles I agree with--The Handmaid's Tale, Never Let Me Go, Westworld--but I'm going to add another one: Frankenstein. Doesn't it always come back to man's desire to control everyone? 😒

Anyway, I'm so glad I read this very disturbing, but empowering book. Can't wait to read the next one.

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More Reading Thoughts

The other day I posted about my Reading 2018 plans. Today I want to chat a bit more about those plans/goals and something that happened on Friday.

I love libraries. I think they're an amazing place that offer a bunch of wonderful services for the community. When I was a kid I borrowed from our local library all the time. I also borrowed a lot of books from my school library (both primary & secondary) and was even a library monitor.

Yes, my love for books started early. I was that kid who borrowed books we weren't studying from my English teachers because I've always read like a maniac.

Anyway, my reason for mentioning libraries is because I've decided to stop borrowing books from our local library. It's a decision that sucks, but also feels like a weight lifted off my shoulders.

Although our library has given me the chance to read a lot of wonderful books--because I just can't buy ALL THE BOOKS--the service is appalling. We've returned books that don't get marked off, the clerks are rude and act like we're putting them out when asking them to do their job in the nicest way possible. They're always unapproachable, grouchy and I have to double check the books I've returned have been removed every single time.

Bottom line: the people working at our local library are awful and don't know how to do their jobs. I'm pretty sure none of them are even librarians!

We've put up with their BS for too long, and the other day two different people were as rude as hell for no reason. So, we returned the excellent book (that was my last) and as soon as I got home, I removed all of my holds.

I'm done with their incompetence.

It's a shame we've been pushed to this, but it's for the best. I'd been thinking about this all week and after chatting to hubby, realised my mind had already been made up.

This brings me back to my 2018 Reading. TBH, their rudeness and pathetic incompetence might actually be a great thing.

Why? Because I've got my own libraries:

• a wall of bookshelves FULL of books. Books I've been neglecting so much I've fallen behind in most of my fave series. 
• a digital library chock-full of new books I can't wait to get stuck into. 
• a teetering pile of review books.

Yep. Why am I even borrowing books when I have SO MANY of my own? Seriously. There are stacked layers on my shelves, I keep buying Kindle books, buy from bookstores, and receive review books all the time. So I won't be missing out on anything. :)

I've also decided the best way to deal with my TBR piles is by choosing 4 or 5 from each SHELF and reading whichever strikes my fancy at the time.

Here's the first lot:

Yesterday I finished EVERLESS, and have already started ENDLESSLY. So, there you go. It's totally working out. 😉

Sometimes a negative can really be turned into a positive.

Happy reading!

BONFIRE by Krysten Ritter

Bonfire by Krysten Ritter

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I borrowed this from the library last Friday and couldn't wait to read it. As soon as I started, I was hooked. Abby's voice drew me in as much as the story.

Abby Williams left Barrens ten years ago and never looked back, but she never forgot the nightmarish things that happened while growing up in this shitty town. Never forgot the pain of losing her mother, how much she hated her father, or that her childhood best friend was a sociopath.

Now she lives in Chicago, has her own life and is an environmental lawyer. She left all the baggage behind, in the past, so she can concentrate on the future.

When a case takes her back to Barrens, a small town in Indiana, to investigate the town's lifeline, Optimal Plastics, everything she's done to distance herself from this place starts to fall apart. She doesn't just stumble on an environmental water issue, but into a disturbing cover-up that can be traced all the way back to the old friend who disappeared...

Wow. Krysten Ritter is a woman of many talents. Not only do I love her portrayal of Jessica Jones, but she's a hell of a writer!

This book turned out to be an amazing, and totally addictive experience. It had all the things that are guaranteed to grab my interest: a damaged lost woman with a whole lot of unrealised strength, a small town with seriously dark secrets, paranoia, not being able to trust anyone, a romantic entanglement with its own risks, and a web of mystery I couldn't wait to untangle.

The writing is solid. The voice so raw it sometimes edges on surreal. The town feels so dirty that the filth practically jumps off the page. And the mystery at the heart of everything didn't disappoint.

Excellent book! This is a slow-burn thriller with page-turning suspense. I couldn't put it down.

I LOVED this book. I really hope this author writes many more.

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Reading 2018

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Well, 2018 is here and that means I've set a new Reading Challenge over at Goodreads.

Like usual, I've set myself the goal of reading 100 books. This total will include novels, novellas, short stories, comic books, poems, etc. 

 I also like to give myself a few Mini Reading Challenges. That can be as simple as making sure I balance my reading with a variety of books: bookshelves, review books, Kindle, Kobo, tablet, and library books. Or as detailed as going through my unfinished trilogy and series books, and making sure I catch up/complete these trilogies/duology/series.

A new reading goal I'd like to add is reading more short story anthologies. 😃

I'm also determined to not waste time with books that just don't grab me, and plan to keep unapologetically DNFing. 

I have to admit that I absolutely hate DNFing books. I feel bad, guilty, awful... because being a writer myself, I know how much hard work goes into a book. BUT, I have way too many books to waste time on boring stories, or ones that I don't find appealing.

 Anyway, you can keep up with my progress on My Reading Page, or at Goodreads. 

So, how many books do you plan to read this year? 

 Here's to another awesome year of reading!

THERE'S SOMEONE INSIDE YOUR HOUSE by Stephanie Perkins

There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG. I loved this!

I seriously LOVED this book.

Not only does it fit perfectly into the slasher genre, but the characters are cool. The setting is perfectly creepy. The tension was so thick and mounted so well I read the whole book in a few sittings.

I was hooked to every page.

Makani Young used to have a different surname when she lived in Hawaii with her parents. Now she's been living with her grandmother in small-town Nebraska. She has a few close friends, keeps an eye on her grandmother, and has a crush on a loner with pink hair.

Osborne is a quiet place without much trouble. So when teenagers start getting murdered in gruesome and staged ways, everyone gets scared and suspicious.

As the search for the killer escalates, Makani and her friends might end up becoming the killer's next target...

Yikes. What an awesome, fun and stabby story!

I loved that there were several mysterious threads weaving in and out of the story: what's Makani's secret? Why is Ollie the topic of rumour? Who is the killer? Why is the killer targeting these particular kids? All of these questions become so deeply twisted around each other that the more I read, the less I wanted to put the book down. It's a real page-turner.

And I loved the writing too. Third person POV was perfect for this kind of story because of the way each victim is introduced. I found myself getting into each kid so quickly that their deaths really hit me! Hooking in a reader so quickly that sympathy swamped me right away takes some good writing.

The characters were also very cool. Makani, the relatively new girl with secrets. Alex, her outspoken friend. Darby, the friend who gets caught in the middle. Ollie, the mysterious and misunderstood guy she falls for. Grandma Young was one of my faves because she's so cute and supportive of Makani in a way her parents never were.

Yeah, there's a lot to love in this book. Especially if you're like me and love all types of horror, and have a soft spot for teenage slashers because you grew up watching them.

I hope Stephanie Perkins writes more horror because she's got a knack for telling a spooky tale with a great dollop of teenage drama.

So GOOD.

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LITTLE MONSTERS by Kara Thomas

Little Monsters by Kara Thomas

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow.

Addictive. Amazing. Clever. Shocking.

Those are just a few words to describe such an excellent book. I borrowed this from the library, and absolutely loved it! I actually picked it up last night after hubby suggested I try it out to see if I liked it... and ended up reading 100 pages. O.o

Kacey's life was pretty hard growing up with her mother, and the variety of boyfriends. But she's been enjoying a much better life in Broken Falls with the father she barely knows. But that's okay, because she has a great stepmother, a nice stepbrother, and a cute half sister. Not to mention her two friends, Bailey and Jade.

When her friends start acting strange and don't invite her to a party but go anyway, she gets upset. Then Bailey doesn't go home after the party. She vanishes, and as the investigation unfolds, Kacey will learn a lot about herself, her family, and the secrets friends keep from each other...

I seriously loved this book. It kept me glued to the page all day! I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next, how everything turned out, and what really happened to Bailey. I had my suspicions, and while some of them were right, nothing prepared me for the biggest and most messed up reveal of all.

OMFG. Yikes!

Yeah, there was a lot of messed up stuff in this story. A lot of toxic friendship baggage. A lot of bizarre family dynamics. But everything ties together in the best and most twisted way posdible.

I also really enjoyed the way the very thin line between love, hate, passion and obsession is explored in this book.

If you like a good thriller, you gotta check this out.

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THE RAVENOUS by Amy Lukavics

The Ravenous by Amy Lukavics

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved Daughters Unto Devils and The Women in the Walls, so I was very excited about this book. And it didn't disappoint!

The Cane family consists of a father in the military, an absent mother, and five sisters who don't always get along. Juliet is the oldest, the matriarch of the bunch, who rules with cruelty and violence. Taylor worships Juliet and does everything she tells her to. Anya is more concerned about texting her girlfriend than what's going on with the family. Mona tries to keep her head down, while secretly drinking to get through the day. Rose is the youngest. The shiny sister who keeps them together and makes them feel like an actual family, even when they seem to be the complete opposite.

When she dies in a freak accident, their world is turned upside down. And when their mother decides to bring her back under some secretive, dodgy circumstances, the sisters are forced to do the unthinkable...

Wow. This book is awesome! Seriously awesome. THIS is how a slow burn story is done. THIS is how you tell a story of grief, isolation and madness. THIS is a total mindfuck, and I loved EVERY moment of it.

I loved how this story developed, ever so slowly but surely. It sucked me in from the very beginning and I just couldn't stop. I didn't want to stop until I found out how it was going to end.

It's spooky, because the horror gradually builds and totally hits you. It's claustrophic, because the Cane family keeps mostly to themselves. It's horrifying, because their familial ties are toxic and nightmarish. It's gross, because there are some scenes that aren't for anyone who is squeamish. It's disturbing, because everything that happens in this story is TOTALLY DISTURBING!

I loved this killer book. So much.

This is one of the best zombie twists I've read. It's also a great serial killer twist.

Can't wait to see what else Amy Lukavics comes up with. ☺

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THE HAUNTING by Alex Bell

The Haunting by Alex Bell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I borrowed this book from the library because it sounded interesting and also because I lurve YA horror. So I was really looking forward to getting stuck into it and couldn't put it down. But because I started NaNoWriMo this week, I had to and instead rewarded myself with reading a bit at the end of each day. :)

The Waterwitch inn has a dark history of ghosts, curses and witches. It was also built using the salvaged timber from the actual cursed ship with a horrifying history of betrayal, torture and revenge.

Emma is confined to a wheelchair and seven years after her accident, she goes back to Looe to visit her sick grandmother. She warns her about going back to the inn because it's dangerous, but Emma can't stay away. Not when she notices a light inside the inn in the middle of the night. And especially not when she finds out her childhood friends are actually staying there.

But the curiosity of these three teenagers and their need to escape leads them into a whole lot of trouble. And one of them in particular will discover a hidden legacy that might curse them all...

This book is CREEPY. In the best way possible.

It's also very well written because the story is told in the first-person POV of three characters and each of them is very different. Emma, Jem and Shell provide insight on what's going on around them at any given time, but they also move the story forward and fill in all the blanks for the reader. And that is an outstanding narrative tool. One that is done perfectly in this book. *thumbs up*

I also liked the mystery and history at the heart of The Haunting. I found the events that happened on the Waterwitch ship to be fascinating, and the witch angle so intriguing. Not to mention that the vivid descriptions made me feel as if the ocean was constantly leaping off the pages.

There's something really horrifying and sad about the history of witches that always makes me shed a tear. The persecution of women has a long and disgusting trail of hate and lies, but none as filthy and infuriating as the witch hunts. Makes me angry and fills me with sadness. :,(

But anyway. I really enjoyed this book. It's an excellent horror story with interesting characters I cheered for, and creepy visuals I got a real kick out of.

Awesome!

PS. I LOVED BAILEY! :)

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A SEMI-DEFINITIVE LIST OF WORST NIGHTMARES by Krystal Sutherland

A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares by Krystal Sutherland

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After reading Our Chemical Hearts, I couldn't wait to read this book. And as soon as I started, I was hooked. The writing style is beautiful, Esther is fascinating, and her family so intriguing I was instantly addicted.

Each member of the Solar family is destined to die from their greatest fear. Ever since Reginald Solar met Death during the Vietnam War, his family has been cursed. Everyone in Esther's family suffers from one great fear: her father won't leave the basement because of his agoraphobia, her mother fears bad luck, and her twin brother is terrified of what lurks in the dark.

As for Esther, she has a list full of fears she calls her semi-definitive list of worst nightmares, and after reconnecting with an old friend from elementary school in the oddest way possible, he convinces her to face these fears.

Jonah Smallgood is an enigmatic young man with his own set of very serious problems. The more time they spend together, the more Esther realises he might lead her to that one big fear she's never wanted to face...

Wow. This book is: awesome! I enjoyed every single minute of it, and couldn't wait to see where it would end.

The only reason I took so long to finish is because I was super busy finishing a first draft last week, and had several things to tidy up, then we went out several times. There was so much going on. But hey, if you're going to take your time with a book, this is definitely the one to do it with. :)

Anyway, back to the story.

I loved every single damaged character in this book. I loved how the Solars used the curse as a way of justifying everything. I loved the way mental health was displayed so honestly and dealt with in such a raw way. Plus, I loved the whole Horowitz mystique. Everything fit so well, and when tied together formed a fantastic tale.

The kids were also awesome. Esther, with her anxious ways and always hiding behind some very cool costumes. Jonah, who is so kind and just such a wonderful human being but also a pickpocket. Eugene, with his desperate desire to not be consumed by the darkness of depression manifesting as fear of the dark. Hephzibah, with her selective muteness and ghostly but uplifting constant presence. And of course, the adorable Fleayoncé.

Each one of these characters affected me in a different way, but they all toyed with my heartstrings. And that, my friend, is some brilliant writing right there!

Yeah, I loved this story. It's dark, odd, sad, moody, heartbreaking & beautiful. Plus the ending was perfect, in so many ways!

I'll be looking out for more books written by this very talented author.

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OUR CHEMICAL HEARTS by Krystal Sutherland

Our Chemical Hearts by Krystal Sutherland

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My daughter borrowed this from the library, so when she finished with it I decided to read it too. And I'm so glad I did!

Henry is a senior who's got two best friends, devotes most of his time to doing schoolwork so he can get into a decent college, and desperately wants to be the editor for the school newspaper. He's never been romantically interested in anyone because no one has captivated him enough.

That all changes when Grace walks into his classroom. She's got a cane, dodgy hair and dresses in oversized boy's clothes. She's also going to be an editor for the paper too. This obviously means he can spend more time with her.

Before he realises it, Henry is totally falling for her but Grace is secretive and damaged. She's hot and cold, fun and depressing. But one thing is for sure, he's addicted to her and most addictions don't end well...

Wow. This book is HEAVY.

It's also super awesome. And so addictive I read it in less than 24hrs. It's also very well written.

Henry's voice shines and he's such a funny and nice kid that I really wanted things to work out for him. Even when I could tell they wouldn't because he wasn't seeing clearly and was falling way to deep too soon.

He's a romantic at heart, but still manages to sometimes be a bit too pushy when it's clear that Grace is not in a good place.

And Grace. OMG. This poor damaged girl has suffered such a traumatic accident with devastating results. She's sad, grieving and all while trying to find a new path in life. A path she's clearly not ready for. As selfish as she seems to come across sometimes, when everything is revealed, you can't help but feel sorry for her.

I also really liked Lola, she was feisty and such a good friend she wasn't afraid to call Henry out on his bullshit. Murray was more of a pain than anything else. His constant Aussie slang was usually out of place and just too much, but I totally got what the author was doing. Plus, he was a bit stalkerish, which is always ew.

Another thing this book did right was the adults. They were actual people with their own set of problems. None of them are perfect, but I got a kick out of his parents and sister because they made me laugh.

And that's another thing. For a book that's so sad and full of complicated love because of each character's life experience, it was so funny!

Yeah, this is an awesome book.

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WONDER WOMAN: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo

Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm a HUGE Wonder Woman fan. I've got a shrine full of WW collectibles. I used to love the show when I was a kid. I went to watch the movie twice because I loved it so much. My favourite mug is a WW one.

Yeah, I'm a fan.

So of course I was looking forward to reading a YA Wonder Woman story.

Diana is always trying to prove herself to her sisters. She might be the queen's daughter, but isn't really considered to be a true Amazon. That's why she enters a race, and is determined to win. Instead, she ends up witnessing a boat explosion and saves a young human girl.

She hides Alia in a cave, but having her is harming the island and making everyone sick. Plus, if she stays she'll end up dying.

When Diana finds out Alia is a Warbringer, she decides to get her off the island and sets off on an adventure to stop war from ravaging the world...

Okay. *takes a deep breath*

I have to be honest. I didn't love this book.

The writing is nice. Diana is great. I liked Theo and Nim. Alia's POV was okay. Actually, I would've liked it better if only Diana's POV was featured. I really disliked Jason. I didn't buy anything about him. Not his connection to Diana, his motivations, or the big reveal. Nope. Nothing.

It's a shame because I thought I would love this book, and I didn't. The story just didn't hook me in like I hoped. It just... I don't know. There was something missing.

Oh well. I'm still glad I read it.

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COMING UP FOR AIR by Miranda Kenneally

Coming Up for Air by Miranda Kenneally

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I've really enjoyed reading the Hundred Oaks series, so I was really excited about reading this one. But after finishing (and unfortunately skimming a bit), I'm actually sad this is the last one.

This installment turned out to be the one I enjoyed the least. :(

Although I (mostly) liked Maggie because she's so motivated and has personal goals, I just didn't like some of her odd motivations. I also didn't much like Levi. So, add those two things together with the fact that I found the swimming angle really boring, and... yeah. This was just okay for me.

It's such a shame that I couldn't connect with this story, especially since I read Defending Taylor a few weeks ago and absolutely adored it!

Also, I usually love the friends to lovers trope--which worked great for Jordan and Sam--but this one was missing something. I just didn't buy the love connection. The way they got together just didn't grab or convince me that these two fell in love. Oh well.

At least I enjoyed the epilogue. A lot more than Maggie's story, to be honest.

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ONE OF US IS LYING by Karen M. McManus

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've been looking forward to reading this book for a while, so I was super excited when the library got a copy. I mean, The Breakfast Club gets thrown around a lot when this book is mentioned, right?

The afternoon Bronwyn, Cooper, Addy and Nate end up in detention together, their lives become a living nightmare. The other person in the detention room is Simon, the guy who runs the very annoying gossip app. He's not a popular guy and a lot of people hate him for spreading rumours, but this time around he's the story.

And shortly after, these four become murder suspects. People start to talk about them, everyone wants to interview them, and the police won't stop hassling them.

Bronwyn is a good girl and an even better student, but she has a secret. Cooper is an exceptional baseball player, but his secret could ruin his career options. Addy is a loyal girlfriend, but her secret could end her relationship. Nate is a drug dealer, but more than that, he's a guy with trust and abandonment issues, and his whole life is wrapped in secrets.

So who killed Simon? Which one of these kids wanted their secret buried so badly they would kill a classmate? Or is there someone else calling the shots?

Wow. This book is fantastic! I enjoyed every single moment of it.

The story is told in the alternating POVs of Bronwyn, Cooper, Addy and Nate, so it took me a few chapters to slot each voice into the right place. Once I did, I relaxed into the flow and enjoyed learning more about each person. I especially loved how these completely different kinds of kids end up depending on each other when the world turns against them. As awful as this experience is, all of them end up learning a lot about themselves and each other. The character growth in this story is exceptional.

I also thought the writing style was awesome because it delved very deeply into each character in such a casual and natural way. Yet still managed to keep certain things concealed until the time is right. Everything just fit so well together!

Oh, and the sibling connections were as amazing as the amount of secrets squeezed into one book. So many secrets, so many lies... so much hidden beneath the surface. I LOVED it!

This is such an awesome book.

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SPELLBOOK OF THE LOST AND FOUND by Moïra Fowley-Doyle

Spellbook of the Lost and Found by Moïra Fowley-Doyle

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Last year I read an awesome book called The Accident Season, so when the next book by this author showed up on my local library's database, I put it in hold.

After a bonfire party where friends Olive and Rose drank a bit too much and can't remember most of what happened, they start to lose things. Some are simple things like a hairclip or a bracelet. Other things are a much bigger deal. Soon after the party, Olive can't find her friend, and when she does Rose seems sad and tries to avoid going to school.

Something strange happened that night, and it looks like everyone in town is going to have to pay somehow.

Things take a much stranger turn when random diary pages written by someone called Laurel begin to appear all over the place, at the same time that the girls meet three mysterious teenagers. Hazel, Ivy and Rowan are squatting in an abandoned housing estate and are clearly running from something, or someone.

But that doesn't matter because soon Olive and Rose find themselves drawn to these three. And when they find the spellbook, the five decide to use it to find their own personal losses. But using magic comes with a price and a sacrifice...

This book is so addictive! From the moment I started, I couldn't wait to find out where it was going to lead. The writing style is beautiful, and so captivating. The characters are intriguing and full of secrets and diversity. The story is magical and intriguing.

I have to admit that at first, there seemed to be too many characters and I had to get my bearings straight with each chapter POV change, but it didn't take long to get everything--and everyone--straight so I could immerse myself in the story. And when I did, I didn't want to put it down.

This story is charming and lovely and full of magic and loss. It's atmospheric, with such vivid imagery that I could see and feel everything described. There's also plenty of mystery and loss, as well as a very clever twisty path that becomes clearer the deeper you lose yourself in what's going on.

I obviously loved this excellent book that challenges what's real and what's not while entangling the past and present.

Can't wait to see what else this author comes up with.

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THE GIRL IN BETWEEN by Sarah Carroll

The Girl in Between by Sarah Carroll

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I borrowed this book from the library because the blurb sounded intriguing, the cover is amazing (not this one, the other one) and it was added on a YA must-read list. :)

Sam and Ma live in an abandoned mill in the city. Their home is old, boarded up, the floorboards are in bad shape and the old machinery is mostly still there. Sam doesn't care about that because this is their Castle, and they live a somewhat comfortable life. But the best thing is that Sam feels safe, because as long as she stays hidden within the walls of The Castle, the Authorities can't take her from her mother.

Ma is feeling better and only takes off to buy food or to find new furniture or to beg for coins. While her mother is away, Sam watches people on the street and finds the painful memories that brought them here surfacing vividly.

As ghosts start to stir in the shadows and structural developments increase in the buildings around them, Sam might stumble onto the most shocking memory of all...

This book is amazing. It's so well written that I was captivated by Sam's voice and her story instantly. OMG. This is such a powerful story about a child forced to live on the streets because of her mother's many mistakes and addictions.

I went through so many emotions while reading this book, and read the bulk of it today because I couldn't put it down. I got so angry at her mother's selfish nature one minute, and then felt sorry for her the next. But mostly I couldn't believe she dragged her young daughter into so many dangerous situations. :(

Even though it was very sad, I really enjoyed Sam's story. In spite of being hidden away and living in isolation because her childhood was stolen from her, she was still willing to learn and always found ways to keep herself entertained. Not to mention that no matter what, she's super loyal to her mother.

Yeah. There's a lot to love in this book.

The story delves into some very serious topics: homelessness, addiction, the effect bad decisions have on innocent children, the harsh reality some people face on a daily basis. All of these situations are treated honestly, with respect and certainly moved me to the point where I wanted Sam's story to end happily.

And lastly, although I worked out the twist at the end, I still definitely loved this book and think it's worth checking out.

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GWENDY'S BUTTON BOX by Stephen King & Richard Chizmar

Gwendy's Button Box by Stephen King

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was very excited when I found out the library was getting this book. And even more excited when I borrowed it. :)

Gwendy Peterson is twelve and has decided to climb the Suicide Stairs to lose some weight. She's sick of getting teased and now that she's starting middle school she's decided to do something about it.

The day she meets the man in black her life changes forever. He gives her a very special box, one with mysterious buttons, tasty treats and silver coins. She's left in charge of the button box and soon finds it consuming her life. Something that might be obsessive and can be dangerous, but might also offer quite a few unexpected rewards...

Wow. This book is amazing. Intoxicating. Addictive. I read the first chapter yesterday and the rest today in one sitting because I didn't want to put it down.

Gwendy's story is intriguing and wonderful and sad. There's plenty of happiness and excitement, but when there's darkness it's sad and devastating. :( But SO GOOD. I also loved Gwendy so much, she's such a great character.

Stephen King and his co-author Richard Chizmar have written a gem of a story. It's so well written, hooked me in from the first word, and also looks so pretty. Love that cover, and the illustrations inside are lovely too.

This novella is outstanding. Loved it!

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QUEENS OF GEEK by Jen Wilde

Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG. This was such an AWESOME book! I loved every second of it. I borrowed it from the library and enjoyed it SO much I'm pretty sure I'll eventually buy my own copy.

Charlie, Taylor and Jamie are best friends from Melbourne, and they're in the U.S. to attend their first ever SupaCon. Charlie is there to promo her YouTube channel and the indy movie she was in. Taylor is excited about the possibility of meeting her favourite author. Jamie is there to geek out and have a blast with his friends.

All three might have their own reasons for wanting to be at SupaCon, but their friendship comes first. And although they were counting on a good time, each one gets to experience so much more than they expected...

Like I said above, this book was a blast. It's told in the POV of Charlie and Taylor, two very different girls with their own hopes and dreams. I adored both of their voices and just wanted to hug them because they're so adorkable!

Seriously, this book is a total geek-out and I got a huge kick out of all the very familiar pop culture references. Oh, and the diversity is absolutely excellent! All representation was so smooth, just there. Which is how it should be because real life is like that, right?

I also liked the two romances. They're both sweet, full of confusion, a few misunderstandings, and a whole bunch of cuteness. I loved all the characters. Um, no, that's not true. I didn't like Reese one little bit. He was such an annoying pesky fly. Ugh. He sucked!

Anyway, I think this book is fantastic and I'm really glad I got the chance to experience it. Because it seriously is quite the experience. I thought the author did a great job at putting the reader in the heart of the convention. The sense of atmosphere was vivid.

This book is cute, fun and full of dorky goodness.

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THE STEEP & THORNY WAY by Cat Winters

The Steep & Thorny Way by Cat Winters

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

By now, I know that when I pick up a novel written by Cat Winters, it means I'm going to love it. She's got an uncanny way of taking readers back into our unsettling past, and totally hooking them into the story.

It's 1923 and Hanalee Denney lives in the small town of Elston, Oregon. She's just like every other teenage girl: enjoys spending time with her best friend, loves to sketch, is keen to learn, and wants to become a lawyer. But she's different because she's the daughter of a white woman and an African American man. A union that isn't accepted by everyone--including the law--and has always singled her out in a crowd.

Now that the boy who is responsible for her father's death three years earlier has been released from jail, she wants some answers. But what she finds isn't what she was expecting, because Joe Adder isn't who everyone claimed he was. And her father's death isn't as straightforward as the law made it out to be.

Throw in her father's wandering ghost, a good dose of suspicion about her stepfather, losing faith in her mother, and the stronghold of the disgusting Ku Klux Klan into the mix, and it's sure to deliver a Hamlet style mystery that will lead Hanalee on the very dangerous road to solving a terrible small town cover-up...

This book is awesome!

I was instantly hooked into Hanalee and Joe's story. And as the truth starts to unfold, I just couldn't put it down. I was swept away by what was happening and what it really revealed about Elston. These characters--even the awful ones--are all SO well written. Everyone plays their part in a terrible crime that is blamed on a very convenient scapegoat.

This story is rich with atmosphere, scenes that get your heart racing, appalling truths, and so much heart. I love how well this deals with uncomfortable historical situations that modern man seems so determined to keep repeating. So, just like all her other books, I got really angry with some of the things that happened to Hanalee and Joe, but absolutely loved the story.

Oh, and there are some very cool historical photos and information added throughout the book. There are two things you can count on with a book written by this author: the story will be awesome, and the actual book will be beautiful.

I borrowed this from the library, but just like her other books, I'll be buying a copy for myself.

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BEHIND HER EYES by Sarah Pinborough

Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

O.M.F.G. That ending. WTF?! O.o

You know, I worked out Adele's secret along the way, and even her intentions eventually dawned on me. But what I didn't expect was that ending! Yikes.

So, um. Yeah. Let's talk about the story.

Louise is a single mother who works part-time as a secretary. She loves her son. She's still not able to trust men after what happened with her cheating ex-husband. She's got a good friend who's always got stories to tell.

The one night she goes out and meets a man she actually likes at a bar... he turns out to be her new--very much married--boss! Ouch.

As shocked and embarrassed as she is, they still have a mutual connection. But then she accidentally meets his wife. And they become friends! Yep. Now Louise is caught between her affair with David and her friendship with Adele.

The deeper she gets with both of them, the more she realises how bad their marriage is. Their picture-perfect exterior hides some festering secrets, and a toxicity that is catching...

Wow. This is some story! It's very well written. The breadcrumbs are many, but there are so many different things going on that it's not easy to know where to apply them. There's also a freaky thread that I didn't expect and totally throws the story into a spin.

Louise was a kind, lonely woman wanting to find her place and be a good friend. But she's also got too many trust issues, is quite gullible and let's be honest, drinks too much wine.

Adele is a beautiful woman who uses her looks as a way to ensnare and deceive and control. She enjoys playing games and is SO OBSESSIVE about her husband that it's a sickness. She's pretty fucked up, really.

Together, the alternating POVs of these two women take the reader on a wild thrill ride with a hint of horror. And it's SO good. I loved this book. It hooked me instantly, and I wanted to take my time with it... but when I got halfway I just had to know where this story was going to end up.

And in typical Sarah Pinborough style, it didn't disappoint. She sure can write a wicked, twisty tale with characters you love, you hate, and love to hate.

Excellent book!

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THE X-FILES ORIGINS: Devil's Advocate by Jonathan Maberry

Devil's Advocate by Jonathan Maberry

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm a huge fan of The X-Files, so after reading--and really enjoying--Mulder's book, I couldn't wait to read Scully's.

It's 1979 and Dana Scully is fifteen. Her family has just moved to the small town of Craiger, Maryland. And since they arrived, she's been having some really strange dreams. Stranger than usual. Scully is smart and analytical, but she's also painfully shy and her only friend is her older sister, Melissa.

Something strange is going on in this small town. A bunch of teenage kids are dying in car accidents, but when Dana starts having visions about the dead kids and whispers of murder start circulating around school, she starts to realise there's something much darker going on. And with the help of a cute classmate, she starts her own amateur investigation. She's determined to get to the bottom of what's going on, even if it means putting her trust in the one person who might offer a one-way ticket to danger...

Okay. This book wasn't what I expected for several reasons: the subject matter (occult murders focusing on angels and demons), and that Dana is apparently psychically sensitive.

While I liked this book, it was nowhere near as good as Agent of Chaos. Absolutely nowhere near it. This story just seemed to be lacking in several ways. Mostly because it felt somewhat forced into the X-Files mythos. In the end, all the strengths--the small-town conspiracy, the new-age shop, the psychic phenomena--end up also becoming the biggest weaknesses. I just didn't buy that what happens in this book turns Scully from possible believer to determined skeptic.

I also couldn't get attached to any of the main or secondary characters, especially Dana Scully herself. Her voice didn't feel right. It was repetitive, the mystery was predictable and the conclusion a bit blah. TBH, the only character that did intrigue me was her grandmother. She was creepy, in a good way.

Also, IMO, there were too many POVs. So many that I felt the story would've been better if it didn't include some of them. Especially the villain's POV. And did there really need to be that many mentions of how pretty Dana was? We get it. I know it. Don't need to be constantly reminded. O_o

Whereas taking a peek into Mulder's teenage years actually added depth to the overall X-Files story arc, Scully's kinda muddled everything. After seeing her go through something like this, it makes her future skepticism seem weird. Contradictory, even.

Devil's Advocate turned out to be just okay for me. It started out strong, but once I reached the last bit of the book and the pieces of the mystery started to come together, it fell flat. It was predictable and disappointing.

I just don't think it fits the overall world.

A huge thanks to Hachette Australia for sending me a copy! 


The X-Files Origins: Devil's Advocate, January 2017, ISBN 9780349002989, Atom


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