The YA Crush Tourney: Augustus Waters

Hey guys!

I am so happy to say that I have been chosen to be an advocate in the 3rd annual YA Crush Tournament hosted by the lovely girls over at the YA Sisterhood.

I am even freakin' happier to announce that I'm the advocate for AUGUSTUS WATERS! YES AUGUSTUS WATERS. 

Now, if you love Augustus and want him to snag the first place, I need you to go over to the YA Sisterhood blog and vote for him!! Voting closes at Midnight.

I know there are some of you scratching your heads thinking, "Damn, who is this guy?", and there are many of you nodding your head, smiling and swooning at the mention of his name. 

For all of you who don't know who Augustus Waters, or Gus for short, is... Well, you better get down over to a bookshop/library and check out THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green.

Are you ready for my amazing argument to why you should vote for Augustus?

WHAT DOES HE LOOK LIKE?

Gus is described in the book as a major hottie who Hazel (the protagonist) meets right at the start of the book, and their relationship starts with a heated staring contest at a cancer group. 

"Look, let me just say it: He was hot. A non-hot boy stares at you relentlessly and it is, at best, awkward, and at worst, a form of assault. But a hot boy... well."

Picture... 

Dark brown hair, 

Beautiful blue eyes, 

Tall and the 

Definition of perfection. 

Gus was a star basketball player before he lost his leg to osteoarthritis (an aggressive form of cancer) and is in remission, but even with his false leg, he is beautiful. Can't picture him? Well, maybe this will help you...

(Model: Joshua Anthony Brand AKA the perfect Augustus)

Oi, Sam! You can't win us over with JUST looks! What's his personality like?

I'm glad you asked! Augustus is a charming, lovable, swoon-worthy, book-obsessed and thoughtful  character. Oh, you want some proof?

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He shook his head, just looking at me.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing," he said.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Augustus half smiled. "Because you're beautiful. I enjoy looking at beautiful people, and I decided a while ago not to deny myself the simpler pleasures of existence.” 

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“Oh, I wouldn't mind, Hazel Grace. It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you.” 

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Not to mention his unique and optimistic view on the world. He is not scared of death, so he tries to keep the mood light and turns any kind of situation into something to smile about.

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“I can only hope,” Julie said, turning back to Gus, “they grow into the kind of thoughtful, intelligent young men you’ve become.”

I resisted the urge to audibly gag. “He’s not that smart,” I said to Julie.

“She’s right. It’s just that most really good-looking people are stupid, so I exceed expectations.”

“Right, it’s primarily his hotness,” I said.

“It can be sort of blinding,” he said.

“It actually did blind our friend Isaac,” I said.

“Terrible tragedy, that. But can I help my own deadly beauty?”

“You cannot.”

“It is my burden, this beautiful face.”

“Not to mention your body.”

“Seriously, don’t even get me started on my hot bod. You don’t want to see me naked, Dave. Seeing me naked actually took Hazel Grace’s breath away,” he said, nodding toward the oxygen tank.

“Okay, enough,” Gus’s dad said.

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I apologise for so many quotes! But the thing is, everything Gus says is either funny, swoon-worthy, or noteworthy and I feel like I NEED to share them with you.

You're right. He is pretty charming, and quite funny, and *Drools* that picture. Hmm, but I'm not quite convinced yet!

Still stubborn? TIME TO PULL OUT THE BIG GUNS... 

(From Cinderella in Combat Boots)

At the beginning of May, an Australian Youtuber called Troye Sivan wrote a stunning song for The Fault in Our Stars. He's trying to make people more aware of cancer but also convince people to read the book because he just LOVED it that much. 

I felt that this was important to share because this tournament is not only about sharing out beloved boys, but it's also here to share books.

To conclude:

"I have an Augustus Waters fetish," I explained.

Oh, Hazel, don't we all? Augustus Waters is a beautiful human being with a heart of gold and words of wisdom. If his gorgeous blue eyes aren't enough for you, his words are enough to win anyone over.
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Are you convinced? Augustus is up against Noah Shaw from The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, so he could really use your vote!

CLICK HERE TO VOTE

The poll is open for the next 24 hours (14th June 12.00 to 15th June 12.00.) Gus is thanking you for your support.

Have a good day,
Sam :D

Waiting on Wednesday (55)

Hey,

This week I've been waiting for...

Star Cursed (The Cahill Witch Chronicles #2) by Jessica Spotswood
Release Date: June 18, 2013

With the Brotherhood persecuting witches like never before, a divided Sisterhood desperately needs Cate to come into her Prophesied powers. And after Cate's friend Sachi is arrested for using magic, a war-thirsty Sister offers to help her find answers—if Cate is willing to endanger everyone she loves.

Cate doesn't want to be a weapon, and she doesn't want to involve her friends and Finn in the Sisterhood's schemes. But when Maura and Tess join the Sisterhood, Maura makes it clear that she'll do whatever it takes to lead the witches to victory. Even if it means sacrifices. Even if it means overthrowing Cate. Even if it means all-out war.

In the highly anticipated sequel to Born Wicked, the Cahill Witch Chronicles continue Cate, Maura and Tess's quest to find love, protect family, and explore their magic against all odds in an alternate history of New England.

I adored Born Wicked and can't wait to find out what happens next. You can check out my review of Born Wicked that I posted on Monday (HERE), and an interview with Jessica Spotswood that I posted yesterday (HERE).

Leave a link to your WoW post in the comments so I can check it out!

Have a good week,
Sam :D

Born Wicked and an Interview

Hey,

I'm here to share with you The Cahill Witch Chronicles! Born Wicked is the first book which is already released, guys! And Star Cursed, the sequel, which will be released on the 18th of June 2013 (ONE WEEK TO GO!), unless you live in the UK like me and will have to wait until March 2014. *Sniffles* 

Anyways, you can check out Born Wicked and it's trailer below if you haven't heard of or read it yet. Also, don't miss my interview with Jessica Spotswood about 

Born Wicked (The Cahill Witch Chronicles #1) by Jessica Spotswood

Release Date: January 8, 2013

Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon | The Book Depository

Everybody thinks Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship--or an early grave. Then Cate finds her mother's diary, and uncovers a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra. But if what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe--not even from each other.
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I adore that trailer! So cute. Have any of you read Born Wicked? If you haven't you can check out my review HERE! If you've already read it, have you pre-ordered the sequel?

Now, let's welcome Jessica Spotswood!

How did you get the idea for Born Wicked?
Like Cate, I'm the oldest of three sisters. I had a dream in which my sisters and I were fighting over a magical locket from our mom. There's no magical locket in the Cahill Witch Chronicles, but I was intrigued by the idea of writing about the complicated mix of love & sibling rivalry between sisters.

Which of the Cahill sisters is your favourite?
Cate, because I'm in her head / her point of view and know her best. But I love all three of them and see some of myself in Maura and Tess, too. 

If you were in Cate's position would you choose Paul or Finn?
Finn! Bookish, freckled, awkward boys FTW!

Favourite YA book/series?
GRACELING, FIRE, and BITTERBLUE by Kristin Cashore

Sum up Star Cursed in three words.
Sisters & witches & kissing

Can you give us any hints for the title of the third book?
I can't! But only because I have no idea what it's going to be. I'm terrible with titles. I did manage to come up with STAR CURSED, but my editor titled BORN WICKED.

Are there any other projects you're working on?
Not officially. Before BORN WICKED sold, I started working on a retelling of Sleeping Beauty from the point of view of her half-fey bastard best friend, though, and I'd love to get back to work on that when I have the time. 

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About the Author:
Jessica grew up in a tiny one-stoplight town in Pennsylvania, where she could be found swimming, playing clarinet, memorizing lines for the school play, or—most often—with her nose in a book. She has been writing since she was little but studied theatre in college and grad school. Now Jessica lives in Washington, DC with her brilliant playwright husband and a cuddly cat named Monkey.
Website | Twitter | Facebook
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Make sure you've added Born Wicked and Star Cursed to your to-read list this summer because the story is pretty awesome!!

Have a good week,
Sam :)

My review of Born Wicked

Born Wicked (The Cahill Witch Chronicles #1) by Jessica Spotswood
Release Date: January 8, 2013
Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon | The Book Depository

Everybody thinks Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship--or an early grave. Then Cate finds her mother's diary, and uncovers a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra. But if what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe--not even from each other.

Another book about witches, another book with a forbidden romance. You might me sighing, but, believe me, this book has unique twists that sets it apart from other witch stories. 

Born Wicked is about Cate Cahill and her two younger sisters who all possess powers that are not accepted within the community. They are witches and no one can know, not even their father, for if they are found out, the Brotherhood would immediately get rid of them. Their mother passed away, but not before she taught Cate how to protect her sisters. When Cate discovers her mother's diary containing a secret that no one could ever imagine, she frantically attempts to find someone that could her change the fates of her and her sisters. Not only that, but Cate has to cope with a marriage proposal from her closest friend, Paul, and control her feelings over Finn Belastra; the way-too-clever boy who works as a gardener and cannot afford to attend university. Uh oh, the dilemmas of being a gorgeous witch.

The story got better as the book went on and I felt myself falling further and further into the world. I thought that Cate was a great protagonist and that her thoughts were really interesting to read about. I must admit, I did pay extra attention to the scenes with Finn in them. He was entertaining with a personality that you can't help but love. Though, I would have liked it if the two spent more time together before they got into a relationship. I think that would have been good.

FinnFinnFinnFinn. I LOVE YOU! The only way that I can think to describe Finn simply is: A very hot nerd. When he appeared in the story I couldn't help but smile and want to praise Spotswood for not throwing in the love interest as a bad boy with attitude issues. One of the choices that Cate has to make is whether she would be happier with Finn, Paul (her best friend since childhood), or going into the Sisterhood where she will learn a considerable amount about who she is and what fate has got planned for her. Me? I'm team Finn for the win!

After the cliffhanger that the book ends on, I cannot wait to hold Star Cursed in my hands! I predict: more mysteries, more characters, and more romance. But I'm sure Jessica has something up her sleeve that will surprise us all.

Rating

My review of The Ghosting of Gods

The Ghosting of Gods by Cricket Baker
Release Date: May 31, 2013
Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon | The Book Depository


Jesse is an apprentice exorcist who defies his priests when he learns his sister is in danger even though she’s dead. When he’s exiled to a haunted world, Jesse must unravel the mystery of ghosts if he is to save her. He plunges into a deadly game of hide-and-seek. The players include denizens draped in monkish robes, ghosts with matted eyes, the dead who tunnel underground in terror, and... Elspeth.

A coven scientist, Elspeth is both respected and feared for her abnormal spiritual powers. Jesse needs--craves--the knowledge of ghosts which she possesses. But is Elspeth a spiritual prodigy, or dangerously insane? The coven scientist begs him to trust her. He doesn’t. But he wants to.

Caught in a world on the brink of spiritual evolution, Jesse struggles to understand Elspeth even as frightening contacts from his sister force him to face the secret, shattering meaning of a verse he knows well: Blessed are the poor in ghost.

I can't exactly say that I was blown away by the plot or the characters of this book. Neither can I say that I was engrossed or completely captivated by the world it is set in. I was expecting a set of diverse characters and a gripping plot. The Ghosting of Gods fell short for me. I found it hard to follow what was going on, or be sucked in by the writing style.

Jesse is an exorcist who recently lost his younger sister. He is determined to bring her back, and when he hears that his sister may be in danger, he doesn't hesitate to sneak over to the cemetery at night to see her. What he doesn't know is that he is being watched by those close to him. Soon he is on a quest to find his sister in a haunted world with his best friend Poe, Ava Lily, and seven-year-old Leesel.

I can't say that I know much of the story considering that I only read about 50 pages before skim-reading the rest. Like I said, I couldn't follow the story and I wasn't immediately hooked by what it had to offer. I was expecting plenty of world building, but that wasn't really the case, making the scene harder to picture in your head.

I thought that Leesel was a great character. She was quirky and offered the book a little charm. Jesse was a loyal character who would do anything for his sister and friends. The author should definitely try to show their personalities more at the start of the book to pull the reader in faster.

Overall, The Ghosting of Gods wasn't what I was expecting, but it had a few good moments that were creepy. If you are a fan of supernatural YA then try it out, if you're not then I would hesitate to recommend it, but give it a go if you're on the fence, you might like it.

Rating

A review copy was provided by the author

Waiting on Wednesday (54)

Hey,

This week I'm waiting for...

Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton

Release Date: Julyn 8, 2013

I can’t weep. I can’t fear. I’ve grown talented at pretending.

Elizabeth Caldwell doesn’t feel emotions . . . she sees them. Longing, Shame, and Courage materialize around her classmates. Fury and Resentment appear in her dysfunctional home. They’ve all given up on Elizabeth because she doesn’t succumb to their touch. All, that is, save one—Fear. He’s intrigued by her, as desperate to understand the accident that changed Elizabeth’s life as she is herself.

Elizabeth and Fear both sense that the key to her past is hidden in the dream paintings she hides in the family barn. But a shadowy menace has begun to stalk her, and try as she might, Elizabeth can barely avoid the brutality of her life long enough to uncover the truth about herself. When it matters most, will she be able to rely on Fear to save her?

I can only describe this cover as creepy yet beautifully haunting! It's sounds really awesome and unique. Someone who cannot feel emotions, but can see them? I can only dream of how the story will go. And the guy, who I assume will be the girl's love interest, is called Fear. Come on, it's a cool name!

Leave a link to your WoW post in the comments so I can check it out!

Have a great week,
Sam :D

The Ghosting of Gods Interview + Giveaway

Hello,

Today I am here to present to you the creepy debut novel from Cricket Baker titled "The Ghosting of Gods". You can check out the cover and blurb below, but also the awesome trailer as well. Also, stick around for an interview with the author and a giveaway.

The Ghosting of Gods by Cricket Baker
Release Date: May 31, 2013

Jesse is an apprentice exorcist who defies his priests when he learns his sister is in danger even though she’s dead. When he’s exiled to a haunted world, Jesse must unravel the mystery of ghosts if he is to save her. He plunges into a deadly game of hide-and-seek. The players include denizens draped in monkish robes, ghosts with matted eyes, the dead who tunnel underground in terror, and...Elspeth.

A coven scientist, Elspeth is both respected and feared for her abnormal spiritual powers. Jesse needs--craves--the knowledge of ghosts which she possesses. But is Elspeth a spiritual prodigy, or dangerously insane? The coven scientist begs him to trust her. He doesn’t. But he wants to.

Caught in a world on the brink of spiritual evolution, Jesse struggles to understand Elspeth even as frightening contacts from his sister force him to face the secret, shattering meaning of a verse he knows well: Blessed are the poor in ghost.

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Looking good, right? My review of the book will be published on Friday so make sure you check back if you want to hear my thoughts on it. It wasn't for me but you can check out all the other positive reviews for the book on Goodreads.

Now, let's welcome Cricket Baker!

How did you get the idea for The Ghosting of Gods?

I wanted to create a ghost world. You know, a severely haunted world. That’s how it started, and gradually, draft after draft, Jesse’s story evolved. Two plot lines emerged: saving his dead sister who is trapped, and discovering forbidden, esoteric knowledge his priests don’t even know about.

Which one of the characters is your favourite?

Poe, hands down. I love him. He’s vulnerable and open-hearted. And hey, his three passions are poetry, horror, and God. So, he’s rather...unusual. I LIKE WEIRD.
Will there be a sequel or companion novel?

Yes, but I’m not working on that one right now, though I have part of an outline done for it. At the moment I’m intimidated by writing a sequel for it...I won’t write it until I know there’s a good enough story there. A sequel needs to be able to stand on its own.

Sum up The Ghosting of Gods in under ten words.

Exorcist unravels mystery of what ghosts really are.

Do you have a favourite YA book/series?

Today I will say Harry Potter because I just saw a hysterical and PERFECT post on Tumblr about what’s in Hermione’s email inbox. I immediately reblogged it. And then I wanted to read a Harry Potter book again. Hogwarts is very, very real to me. I’m thinking that when I die, Hogwarts may be what heaven is.

Are you working on any other projects?

I’m working on a novel about a college town where students end up with mental illnesses. I’m a counselor for teens, so my day job is leaking into my writing! It will be creepy...I think I will only and always ever write spooky stuff. It’s my first love as far as genres go.

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You can follow Cricket at the following places:

Website 

Tumblr

Facebook

Goodreads

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Don't forget to add The Ghosting of Gods to your TBR lists if you're interested! Cricket has also kindly offered a $15 Amazon gift card so make sure you fill out the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win.

**GIVEAWAY ENDED**
Winner: Veronica D.
Reply to my email ASAP!

Have a good week,

Sam :)

My review of Such a Rush

Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols
Release Date: June 6, 2013
Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon | The Book Depository

High school senior Leah Jones loves nothing more than flying. While she's in the air, it's easy to forget life with her absentee mother at the low-rent end of a South Carolina beach town. So when her flight instructor, Mr Hall, hires her to fly for his banner advertising business, she sees it as her ticket out of the trailer park. Then Mr Hall dies suddenly leaving his teenage sons, golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson, in charge of running the business. The two brothers have always made their hostility towards her clear so she's sure that her dreams of being a pilot are over… 

Then it Grayson makes it clear that he wants her to stay working for him, and Leah doesn't understand why. She's crushed on him for years, but always known he's out of her league… isn't he? As the summer rolls on and they spend more time together the spark between them grows, but with Alec's feelings starting to change too, suddenly things become a whole lot more complicated. Now Leah finds herself drawn into a battle between brothers - and the consequences could be deadly…

Such a Rush was... such a rush! An entertaining and engrossing story that I thoroughly enjoyed and will definitely re-read and recommend to those contemporary-junkies out there. 

Leah Jones lives in a trailer park with her barely present mother with not much to do except watch the planes fly by from the airport right next door. When she finally scrapes up the courage, she stomps over to Mr Hall, the owner, and asks for flying lessons. Three years later, she has a license and a steady job working for Mr Hall's banner advertising business with his two very good looking teenage sons, Grayson; the trouble maker, and Alec; the golden boy, who she's never really spoken to. But when Mr Hall passes away and leaves the company to his sons, Leah is forced to finally engage in a conversation. Grayson wants her to stay working for the company but with his own conditions, and Leah finds herself crushing harder on him that she has for the past years. But Alec is also in the picture, and Leah finds herself caught between the two and her love for flying.

After reading Forget You, I had to get my hands on this as soon as possible because I knew I would love it. I wasn't hooked from the first page, but by the third chapter I couldn't put it down. And I guess that just has something to do with visiting a new world and meeting new characters. But in the end, I did indeed fall hard for our main girl Leah and the ABS-olutely gorgeous Greyson. (Even if he was a douche at the start.)

What can I say? I am a sucker for any book with some kind of romance plot in it, and it just so happens that this book has a lot of it! But it also has elements of self-discovery and what it really means to be yourself. And I ate that all up.

Leah is a bold and proud character who I admired and adored. She's not had an easy life growing up and everything has been very unsettled since her mother doesn't exactly pay 100% attention to her. Leah is a hard worker and very passionate. I enjoyed getting to know her over the period of the book and learning about her past and what she expects in her future. And her relationship with Greyson? I enjoyed that too. I loved the way their feelings built every time they talked and the tension whenever a guy approached Leah. Very funny to see a guy into alpha male mode.

At the start of the book, Greyson asks Leah to come back to work at the business, but he also asks for her to date his brother Alec. Why? Well, that part isn't revealed until the last part of the book. But whatever the reason is, it's important. Leah accepts because she can't afford to lose the job, which is exactly what Greyson intends to do if Leah refuses. Now, this doesn't make Greyson the most likable of characters, does it? But as the book progresses, he opens up and you see the boy buried underneath the front he puts on, and it's impossible not to love him. Not to mention the fact that he is hot and so adorable when he wants to be.

Alec. He plays a big role in the book of being the block stopping Leah and Greyson's relationship. And considering he has been given such a big role, I didn't feel like I saw enough of him or his personality. I would have liked Echols to let his personality shine through a bit more because I think that would have made his character a lot more interesting. 

I loved so much about this book. The characters and the romance, but also the flying. It was weird at first when Leah was telling us about flying a plane and I was sitting there thinking of it as foreign language. Nevertheless, I got used to that and found that it gave the book that extra sense of excitement. After all, I don't think I've ever read a book where an eighteen-year-old flies a plane. And after reading this book... I wanna try!!!

Such a Rush has a wonderful storyline and plot twists to keep you on the edge of your seat, but it also holds a set of quirky and lovable characters. I'm anticipating more books from Jennifer Echols because both Such a Rush and Forget You have left such a mark on me. If you're looking for a contemporary romance to read this summer, don't miss this. 

Rating 

A review copy was provided by Simon and Schuster

Book Haul (#48)

Hey,

I haven't really done anything this week. But out of no where, my mum said we were going to France... FOR ONE DAY! So that's what I did on Friday. We visited Calais, because that's where the ferry dropped us and I was surprised because everything was so... clean. I mean, come to England and the streets aren't exactly pretty! Ahaha. Where's your favourite place to visit? Anywhere in the world! Let me know. ;)

This week I bought and won:

The Secret of Ella and Micha (The Secret #1) by Jessica Sorensen - Bought -
I saw this on Goodreads and thought that it looked absolutely adorable!! So I bought it and absolutely loved it! I can't wait to read the sequel.
Dead Romantic by C. J. Skuse - Won -
Thank you, Chicken House and Rabiah at Confessions of a Readaholic! I won a signed copy and it sounds and looks so cool. I've heard a lot about this author and I'm interested to see what the hype is about.

Leave a link to your Book Haul/Stacking the Shelves/Letterbox Love/In My Mailbox/Showcase Sunday in the comments so I can check it out!

Enjoy your books,
Sam :D

My review of Shadow and Bone

Shadow and Bone (The Grisha #1) by Leigh Bardugo
Release Date: June 6, 2013
Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon | The Book Depository


The Shadow Fold, a swathe of impenetrable darkness, crawling with monsters that feast on human flesh, is slowly destroying the once-great nation of Ravka.

Alina, a pale, lonely orphan, discovers a unique power that thrusts her into the lavish world of the kingdom’s magical elite—the Grisha. Could she be the key to unravelling the dark fabric of the Shadow Fold and setting Ravka free?

The Darkling, a creature of seductive charm and terrifying power, leader of the Grisha. If Alina is to fulfill her destiny, she must discover how to unlock her gift and face up to her dangerous attraction to him.

But what of Mal, Alina’s childhood best friend? As Alina contemplates her dazzling new future, why can’t she ever quite forget him?

Shadow and Bone is a breathtaking fantasy debut that will not only hold you with its captivating world, but also with its fierce and feisty characters. 

Prepared to be thrust into the kingdom of Ravka, where an abyss of darkness infested with dangerous beasts that feed on humans, called the Fold, slowly spreads across the land. This is the kingdom that orphans Alina and Mal grew up in. Alina has never been special or extraordinary until she discovers a sudden burst of power and is separated from her best friend Mal, and sent to the extravagant world of Ravka's magical folks; The Grisha. She has to learn to control the power she now possesses, but also get used to the only man who can help her, the Darkling. A terryingly powerful man with irresistible charm that Alina can't help but be drawn to. But then there's Mal, who is not Grisha and could not follow her into the palace, but he is out there somewhere, and Alina can't seem to get him out of her head.

I fell into this fantasy world immediately and I could not put it down! I was captivated by what the world and characters had to offer. The world building was awesome and the way the author describes Ravka through Alina's eyes is both magical and frightening. Every twist and every turn was something unpredictable, and I loved that about this book.

Alina is fierce when she wants to be. But inside, she's just a broken girl who only wants a peaceful, simple life. Moving to the posh side of Ravka where the Grisha live, definitely did not cross her mind. Alina is loyal and will easily grow on you over the course of the book. Her unconditional love for her best friend Mal is endearing and really gave the story a lighter side. 

I didn't particularly like the Darkling. Now, I've heard that people have been falling head-over-heals for him and I'm just sitting here like:

I don't quite see what is appealing about a manipulative, dark, extremely old and evil character. But I guess everyone has their preferences. To express my opinion, Mal is more my kind of boy. he's protective and sweet when he wants to be. He's loved Alina all his life, even though he didn't realise it at the beginning, but when he does, that for me was a "OMG, MY HEART CAN'T COPE!" moment.

There is so much to praise in Shadow and Bone: the world building, the characters, the plot, the twists, and so much more. If this was adapted into a movie it would be incredible. Pick up this book as soon as you can because it cannot be missed! The sequel Siege and Storm will be out soon.

Rating

A review copy was provided by Orion Publishing