Sophie Reads YA: #RockMyTBR 2016 Challenge

#RockMyTBR 2016 Challenge

Review: Strange and Ever After (Something Strange and Deadly #3) by Susan Dennard

10:00

Strange and Ever After
Series: Something Strange and Deadly #3
Author: Susan Dennard
Published June 23rd 2015 by HarperTeen

Goodreads Synopsis
Perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare's The Infernal Devices series, this is the explosive conclusion to Susan Dennard's trilogy, which started with Something Strange and Deadly and continued with A Darkness Strange and Lovely. With supernatural forces, epic romance, and a mysterious Egyptian city, Eleanor and her team are set for an adventure they will never forget.

It has been a tumultuous time for Eleanor Fitt since life as she knew it in Philadelphia came abruptly to an end. Although the Spirit-Hunters—Joseph, Jie, and Daniel—have helped her survive, Eleanor has lost just about everything.

And now, Jie is missing—taken by the evil necromancer Marcus. Eleanor is determined not only to get her back but to finally end this nightmare. To do so, she must navigate the hot desert streets of nineteenth-century Egypt amid the rising Dead, her unresolved feelings for Daniel, and her volatile relationships with Joseph and Oliver, her demon. And it won't be easy. Because Allison, her friend from Philadelphia, has tagged along, becoming strangely entangled in Eleanor's mission.

It will take all of Eleanor's powers of black magic, and all of Daniel's and Joseph's trust, to succeed. But there will be a price.
Goodreads

Review
This book was everything I wanted in the finale to this series. I wanted to savour the book so much, and one of the things I remember the most while reading this was how much I didn't want the book to end, but I knew I needed to get to the ending, and my god, did that ending kill me!

In Strange and Ever After, our gang of heroes are still searching for the Necromancer at the heart of the zombie uprising, Marcus. Jie has been kidnapped, and they are heading to Egypt to stop Marcus from gaining even more power. Eleanor is struggling with her abilities, and is trying to control them because she knows how important they will be when it comes to defeating Marcus. The other Spirit Hunters disagree, especially Daniel who wants to protect Eleanor as much as possible. They relationship definitely develops, for the better, and I just love these two together. From the first meeting in Something Strange and Deadly, I wanted them together, because the chemistry was just off the charts.

Eleanor really comes into her own in this final instalment. A character I've always loved, she now has come to terms with her 'strangeness' and is using it, rather than hiding away from her power. She uses her snark and her intelligence to help her get out of sticky situations, though sometimes I wanted to throttle her for getting into those situations to begin with. She's much more mature than the naive Miss Fitt we met on the first pages of Something Strange and Deadly.

Again, the change of scenery and secondary characters showed the amount of planning and research Sooz did while writing these books, and I've never been to Egypt, but this has made me want to go even more. Everything was done for a reason, and the plot was definitely tying everything up for the ending. Like I said, the ending killed me, and I don't want to give anything away, but I think it was the right thing, with hindsight. At the time, I was angry, but nothing was done in this book that wasn't necessary, and definitely not that. Sooz is such an amazing author, and I'm eternally grateful I discover these books - I just now wish there were UK publishers for them.

Dates Read:
September 18-22, 2016

Rating
5 Stars

#RockMyTBR 2016 Challenge

Review: A Darkness Strange and Lovely (Something Strange and Deadly #2) by Susan Dennard

10:00

A Darkness Strange and Lovely
Series: Something Strange and Deadly #2
Author: Susan Dennard
Published June 24th 2014 by HarperTeen

Goodreads Synopsis
Perfect for fans of Libba Bray's The Diviners and Cassandra Clare's The Infernal Devices series, this spellbinding sequel to Something Strange and Deadly delivers a mix of supernatural forces and intense romance, set against the enchanting backdrop of nineteenth-century Paris.

With her brother dead and her mother insane, Eleanor Fitt is alone. Even the Spirit-Hunters—Joseph, Jie, and the handsome Daniel—have fled to Paris. So when Eleanor hears the vicious barking of hounds and sees haunting yellow eyes, she fears that the Dead, and the necromancer Marcus, are after her.

To escape, Eleanor boards a steamer bound for France. There she meets Oliver, a young man who claims to have known her brother. But Oliver harbors a dangerous secret involving necromancy and black magic that entices Eleanor beyond words. If she can resist him, she'll be fine. But when she arrives in Paris, she finds that the Dead have taken over, and there's a whole new evil lurking. And she is forced to make a deadly decision that will go against everything the Spirit-Hunters stand for.

In Paris, there's a price for this darkness strange and lovely, and it may have Eleanor paying with her life.
Goodreads

Review
After finishing book 1, Something Strange and Deadly, I was so happy I had copies of the next two books, because I needed to read them ASAP. As you can see, I read this book all in one day, it was that good. Following her brother's death, and her mother's mental break, Miss Eleanor Fitt is seemingly all alone. Even her friends in the Spirit Hunters have left her, heading to Paris, and she is more than determined than ever to find out the truth, and do what she can to stop the evil Necromancer, Marcus. So, Eleanor boards a steamer ship bound for France, and meets the mysterious Oliver, who claims he knew her brother. Oliver seems to have his own dark powers, which are calling to Eleanor's necromancer skills, which both terrify and entice her. When she reaches Paris, she needs to work together with her friends in the Spirit Hunters, and Daniel Sherridan, once more, to stop Marcus from raising the dead in another city.

Eleanor was as amazing a character in this book as she had been in the previous one. She seems even more determined to stop Marcus, what with what happened to her family in the last book, and doesn't like being treated like a burden, or someone who is weak. When her and Daniel meet once again, the sparks are still flying, and Daniel is as brash as he had been. All of the Spirit Hunters seem to want to keep her away from them, and not use her intelligence or skills to help, like they had before. Oliver was a wonderful new introduction, and though it may be assumed he would be a love interest for Eleanor, he isn't, but is someone who is there for her as a friend, which she sorely needs.

Being in Paris, and the world building of the city was a nice change from Philadelphia. We were fully immersed in the city, with it being described perfectly, and it was almost as if you were actually there witnessing events, rather than just reading about them. Everything about Sooz's writing is perfection, and you need to get a start on her books if you haven't already.

Dates Read:
September 18, 2016

Rating
5 Stars

#RockMyTBR 2016 Challenge

Review: Something Strange and Deadly (Something Strange and Deadly #1) by Susan Dennard

10:00

Something Strange and Deadly
Series: Something Strange and Deadly #1
Author: Susan Dennard
Published June 25th 2013 by HarperTeen

Goodreads Synopsis
There's something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia. . . .

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about.

Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she's just read in the newspaper:

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor . . . from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she'll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including the maddeningly stubborn yet handsome Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.
Goodreads

Review
I read this book, and it's sequels way back in 2016, and honestly don't know why it's taken me until now to review them, but there we go. I first heard about this series when I was a newbie blogger, and decided to use a gift card I had won to order them, and give them a try, and boy, am I glad I did. For one thing, they're fantastic books in their own right, and for another, it helped me to discover Sooz, and her fabulous writing.

Now, Something Strange and Deadly follows Miss Eleanor Fitt, as she struggles with the disappearance of her brother, the loss of status for her family, her father's death, and the zombie apocalypse apparently occurring in Philadelphia in 1876. One day, there is a zombie attack while Eleanor is out, and one of the zombies happens to hand her a letter from her brother, Elijah. As good as she may be, she can't do anything to help him, or stop the zombies, so much join forces with the Spirit Hunters, headed by Joseph Boyer, and with the working class Daniel Sherridan in tow. Daniel and Eleanor lock heads a lot, what with them being from differing social classes, but they work together to create and design sort of steampunk weapons that can stop the zombies, and the Necromancer who seems to be targeting the high society of Philadelphia.

Eleanor was a wonderful main character. From a high society background, of the Philadelphia Fitts, it might be expected that she wouldn't do anything for herself, and was a damsel in distress type of character, but she really wasn't. She was strong and feisty, and since her family had fallen on hard times, she had had to support herself and learn a bit of truth about the real world. She would do anything to save her brother, especially with her mam trying to marry her off at the young age of sixteen, and she won't go down without a fight. From the first meeting with Daniel, who is brash and someone wholly not of her circle, they butt heads, but there's always a chemistry there, sparks growing and an attraction seeming to develop every time he calls her a princess.

Everything about the plot was so carefully planned out, that I only put this book down to sleep, that's how good it was. I'm not usually one for zombies, but the descriptions aren't graphic in the sense to horrify you. What I loved most about this book was the history of it all. The 19th century has always been a favourite period of mine to read about - the Regency Era or Victorian Era in British History in particular - and although I didn't know much about America at this time (the only American history I've really studied was the Civil War at university, and I've taught Vietnam and Race Relations at school), Sooz made it easy to understand it all, and it clearly was well researched. Because of all of this, I just had to dive into book 2, A Darkness Strange and Lovely, straight away.

Dates Read:
September 17-18, 2016

Rating
5 Stars

#RockMyTBR 2016 Challenge

Review: An Ember in the Ashes (An Ember in the Ashes #1) by Sabaa Tahir

10:00

An Ember in the Ashes
Series: An Ember in the Ashes #1
Author: Sabaa Tahir
Published June 4th 2015 by Harper Voyager

Goodreads Synopsis
Set in a terrifyingly brutal Rome-like world, An Ember in the Ashes is an epic fantasy debut about an orphan fighting for her family and a soldier fighting for his freedom. It’s a story that’s literally burning to be told.
What if you were the spark that could ignite a revolution?
For years Laia has lived in fear. Fear of the Empire, fear of the Martials, fear of truly living at all. Born as a Scholar, she’s never had much of a choice.
For Elias it’s the opposite. He has seen too much on his path to becoming a Mask, one of the Empire’s elite soldiers. With the Masks’ help the Empire has conquered a continent and enslaved thousands, all in the name of power.
When Laia’s brother is taken she must force herself to help the Resistance, the only people who have a chance of saving him. She must spy on the Commandant, ruthless overseer of Blackcliff Academy. Blackcliff is the training ground for Masks and the very place that Elias is planning to escape. If he succeeds, he will be named deserter. If found, the punishment will be death.
But once Laia and Elias meet, they will find that their destinies are intertwined and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.
In the ashes of a broken world one person can make a difference. One voice in the dark can be heard. The price of freedom is always high and this time that price might demand everything, even life itself.
Goodreads

Review
I had this book on my tbr for ages, and after loads of people telling me I needed to read the book, I finally gave in.

Laia's family and people are enslaved by the Martials, and live in horrible conditions. When her brother is arrested for treason, for working with the Resistance to undermine the Empire, Laia finds herself becoming a spy. Placed inside the Blackcliff academy, she has to find a way to protect herself, and also gather vital information to save her brother.

Elias is different. Born into a leading Martial family, he is one of the best students at Blackcliff. However, all he wants is to escape, and has absolutely no goal to become a Mask. The only way to become free is to take part in the Trials, but even he may not be good enough to succeed and win.

This book reminded me so much of Ancient Rome, with the Blackcliff Academy being just like a mix of gladiators, and legionaries. From the get go, it was brutal, and every page has another key point happening on the page. The action just ramps up, more and more, and by the end of each part, you feel like you've actually gone through the same as them - the story just gets into your soul.

The book is written in dual POV, and I found myself enjoying both as much as the other. As Laia and Elias are from completely different backgrounds, they shouldn't really have anything yo do with each other, but whenever they meet, the chemistry flies off the page. I loved how Laia grew into her role as a spy, and strengthened herself against the Martials in order to protect herself. She was at risk in pretty much every single scene in the book, and she managed to overcome her original weaknesses to become a strong willed fighter.

The problem I have, is that I'm writing this review over a year after I read the book, and, honestly, I've forgotten the vast majority of what happened. I can remember I liked Laia and Elias intrigued me, as did Helene. I remember the trial was something to do with the new Emperor, and that Elias' mask hadn't melded with his face yet, because he kept taking it off. Other than that, I'm a bit blank on the rest of the plot. I know so many people adore and rave about this series, but even though I enjoyed it when I read it, it didn't become a favourite of mine, at all. I mean, it took me two weeks to finish it, when I would've normally flown through it otherwise.

I might try and re-read it in the future, and give the other books ago, but I'm not too sure if I'm ready for how brutal the book was, and the series has probably become. Let me know if you think otherwise.

Dates Read:

July 24-August 9, 2016

Rating
4 Stars

#RockMyTBR 2016 Challenge

Review: Lion Heart (Scarlet #3) by A.C. Gaughen

10:00

Lion Heart
Series: Scarlet #3
Author: A.C. Gaughen
Published May 19th 2015 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Goodreads Synopsis
Scarlet has captured the hearts of readers as well as the heart of Robin Hood, and after ceaseless obstacles and countless threats, readers will finally find out the fate of the Lady Thief.

Imprisoned by Prince John for months, Scarlet finds herself a long way from Nottinghamshire. After a daring escape from the Prince's clutches, she learns that King Richard’s life is in jeopardy, and Eleanor of Aquitaine demands a service Scarlet can’t refuse: spy for her and help bring Richard home safe. But fate—and her heart—won’t allow her to stay away from Nottinghamshire for long, and together, Scarlet and Rob must stop Prince John from going through with his dark plans for England. They can not rest until he’s stopped, but will their love be enough to save them once and for all?
Goodreads

Review
Lion Heart was sort of bittersweet, because as much as I loved the book, I just wished it wasn't over. For the finale of the trilogy, it was the perfect mix of history, and action, and it tied up all the loose ends and answered all the questions we'd had from the very start of Scarlet. Now that Scarlet has been arrested and imprisoned by Prince John for Gisbourne's murder, she needs all her wits about her to survive. Everyone else thinks she has died, and John doesn't want to let her out of his sight. However, Scarlet is Scarlet, and she escapes, but she is still an outlaw, and has to rely on Eleanor's help in order to survive. Once it's discovered that John is planning on taking the crown for himself, Eleanor needs her to spy and help return King Richard home safely. Luckily, this takes her back to Nottingham, and she are Rob need to use all their resources to protect England, and stop John.

Scarlet has gone through hell in these books, but she still won't stop fighting for what is right. Now that she knows she is the illegitimate daughter of Richard, King of England, she uses it to her advantage, knowing that no matter how evil John is, he won't kill his niece. That doesn't mean he won't hurt her, either physically or mentally. She has to use everything she can in order to survive, and, luckily, she won't have to do it alone. Her character has matured, and although she still isn't comfortable about being a highborn lady, she steps up to the role like a champ, and uses it to her advantage.

The action in this book is immense - it's as if there are many different plot lines that are running parallel, and they all come to a head in this book. Obviously, Scarlet is involved in them all. It's not all just fighting though, either, there's also a lot of intrigue, and political backstabbing - all which have Eleanor's name right on them.

Finally, the romance is perfect in Lion Heart. Honestly, when I need all the feels, I grab this book, and re-read certain passages from it. Rob and Scarlet are the ultimate OTP, and nothing will stand in their way; they are perfect for each other.

This book, and the series are everything, and I'm just glad that I discovered them, and bought them. They are perfect for anyone who loves Robin Hood, history, or even just really good YA books. I can't wait for Gaughen's new series.

Dates Read:
May 22-23, 2016
February 28-March 1, 2017

Rating
5 Stars

#RockMyTBR 2016 Challenge

Review: Lady Thief (Scarlet #2) by A.C. Gaughen

10:00

Lady Thief
Series: Scarlet #2
Author: A.C. Gaughen
Published February 11th 2014 by Walker Childrens

Goodreads Synopsis
Scarlet’s true identity has been revealed, but her future is uncertain. Her forced marriage to Lord Gisbourne threatens Robin and Scarlet’s love, and as the royal court descends upon Nottingham for the appointment of a new Sheriff, the people of Nottingham hope that Prince John will appoint their beloved Robin Hood. But Prince John has different plans for Nottingham that revolve around a fateful secret from Scarlet’s past even she isn’t yet aware of. Forced to participate at court alongside her ruthless husband, Scarlet must bide her time and act the part of a noblewoman—a worthy sacrifice if it means helping Robin’s cause and a chance at a future with the man she loves. With a fresh line of intrigue and as much passion as ever, the next chapter in Scarlet’s tale will have readers talking once again.
Goodreads

Review
After the ending of Scarlet, anyone would need to pick Lady Thief up immediately. Now that everyone knows just who Scarlet is, and why Gisbourne was so interested in finding her, they are trying to come to terms with the revelations. However, Prince John is due to arrive, to appoint a new Sheriff for the county. Obviously, everyone wants Robin to be Sheriff, and back in his rightful home, but John has another idea. He wants Gisbourne, and for this, Gisbourne needs his wife by his side. Even knowing that John and Gisbourne will make her life hell, she goes along with playing the dutiful wife, hoping that it will help Rob become Sheriff, and protect the people of Nottingham.

Once again, I find myself in love with Scarlet. She's so selfless when it comes to protecting the people she cares about, and even though she knows it's going to be dangerous to move into the castle and play at being Gisbourne's wife, she'll do it anyway, to help Rob and the others. She suffers loads in this book, and never once does she complain - I think it's kind of a self deprecating thing, where she feels that her past actions means that she deserves the pain she is suffering at the moment. However, that doesn't mean she'll just take it lying down, she plans on making Gisbourne, and John, suffer for what they are doing to Nottingham.

The romance between Scarlet and Rob was so bittersweet. After Scarlet, they thought that they could be happy together, but, of course, the whole matter of Scarlet having to play at being Gisbourne's wife, she and he are separated for a lot of the book. They want to protect each other, but by doing so, they hurt themselves more and more. No matter what, protecting the county and the people of Nottingham, is more important that anything else could be.

Having some actual historical figures in the book - not that I don't think Robin Hood was real, but, you know - was amazing. Eleanor of Aquitaine is my favourite Queen Consort of English/British history, and I adore anything to do with her. Having her power and strength shown in this book, and the fact she won't listen to John, who's just a jumped up prince, goes hand in hand with everything that is historically known about herself. I had a feeling why she was taking so much of an interest in Scarlet, but having them two together, was wonderful.

Yet again, there's a awful cliffhanger, and you'll need to have Lion Heart in your hands, or it'll cause you pain. I really can't help but to recommend these books over and over again, everyone needs to read them in their life.

Dates Read:
May 30-31, 2016
February 25-28, 2017

Rating
5 Stars

#RockMyTBR 2016 Challenge

Review: Scarlet (Scarlet #1) by A.C. Gaughen

10:00

Scarlet
Series: Scarlet #1
Author: A.C. Gaughen
Published February 14th 2012 by Walker Childrens

Goodreads Synopsis
Will Scarlet is good at two things: stealing from the rich and keeping secrets - skills that are in high demand in Robin Hood's band of thieves, who protect the people of Nottingham from the evil sheriff. Scarlet's biggest secret of all is one only Robin and his men know...that she is posing as a thief; that the slip of a boy who is fast with sharp knives is really a girl.
The terrible events in her past that led Scarlet to hide her real identity are in danger of being exposed when the thief taker Lord Gisbourne arrives in town to rid Nottingham of the Hood and his men once and for all. As Gisbourne closes in a put innocent lives at risk, Scarlet must decide how much the people of Nottingham mean to her, especially John Little, a flirtatious fellow outlaw, and Robin, whose quick smiles have the rare power to unsettle her. There is real honour among these thieves and so much more - making this a fight worth dying for.
Goodreads

Review
I simply adore these books! I've read them twice now, and can;t help but picking them up from time to time to re-read my favourite sections.

Scarlet follows the story of Will Scarlet, one of the heroes of the Robin Hood legend, but who is actually a girl in disguise. She has joined Robin's band of Merry Men, but is keeping her true identity a secret. Once the Sheriff invites the infamous Guy of Gisbourne to Nottingham to rid the county of Robin once and for all, Scarlet finds herself risking her life, and her identity, in order to save others, and protect Nottingham.

Scarlet is honestly the best heroine I have ever read in historical fiction. Gaughen obviously did her research to make the story appear so realistic, it was as if you were actually with Scarlet and the gang on their adventures. Scarlet embodied everything I know about this period, and though she kept as much of herself a secret as she could, there was a vulnerable side to her, one which came out the most when she was with Rob. No matter what it would do to herself, she would risk her life to save innocents, especially when Guy is turning up the pressure to discover her.

Like I said, everything about the world building and writing style just improved the book even more. The description of Nottingham and Sherwood made everything come to life, and I loved how everything just flowed naturally - nothing seemed out of place. Guy was a piece of work, but in a way that showed he might just have some humanity about him, and there was a reason behind his anger.

The romance is infinitesimal, but its more a slow burn which make your heart ache, but also means you have the biggest grin on your face. Robin and Scarlet are perfect for each other, but they both have their demons, and their secrets, and don't trust themselves enough to let someone else in. The way Rob knew that Scarlet would reveal more about herself and her past when she was ready, you just knew that they were the best for one another.

The ending of this book means you need Lady Thief immediately. I found the revelation of her identity done in the best way, though everyone knows who Scarlet actually is. If you're a fan of Robin Hood in any form, or historical fiction, this is definitely a book for you.

Dates Read:
May 28-9, 2016
February 23-24, 2017

Rating
5 Stars

#RockMyTBR 2016 Challenge

Review: Queen of Someday (Stolen Empire #1) by Sherry D. Ficklin

10:00

Queen of Someday
Series: Stolen Empire #1
Author: Sherry D. Ficklin
Published October 7th 2014 by Clean Teen Publishing

Goodreads Synopsis
ONE GIRL WILL BRING AN EMPIRE TO ITS KNEES...

Before she can become the greatest empress in history, fifteen-year-old Sophie will have to survive her social-climbing mother’s quest to put her on the throne of Russia—at any cost.

Imperial Court holds dangers like nothing Sophie has ever faced before. In the heart of St. Petersburg, surviving means navigating the political, romantic, and religious demands of the bitter Empress Elizabeth and her handsome, but sadistic nephew, Peter. Determined to save her impoverished family—and herself—Sophie vows to do whatever is necessary to thrive in her new surroundings. But an attempt on her life and an unexpected attraction threatens to derail her plans.

Alone in a new and dangerous world, learning who to trust and who to charm may mean the difference between becoming queen and being sent home in shame to marry her lecherous uncle. With traitors and murderers lurking around every corner, her very life hangs in the balance. Betrothed to one man but falling in love with another, Sophie will need to decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice in order to become the empress she is destined to be.

In a battle for the soul of a nation, will love or destiny reign supreme?
Goodreads

Review
Even though this series has been published for a while, when I first heard about it, I was completing an Imperial Russia module at uni, and wanted to read anything I could about Imperial Russia. Catherine the Great, though not a monarch I studied during my degree, has always intrigued me, because of how badass she was, in a world run by men. To have an origin story for Catherine was like a dream come true.

In Queen of Someday, our MC, Sophie (great name ;)), is preparing herself to be married to the Tsarevich of All Russia, Peter. She will face the Imperial Court, and all the political intrigue and danger that goes hand in hand with that lifestyle, all the while, being a naive 15 year old girl. As she realises that her husband's Aunt, Elizabeth, rules the court, and Sophie will find herself being broken and moulded into something she isn't, she starts to fight back. We soon see Sophie become the magnificent Catherine the Great, and stand up for herself.

Now, I'm writing this review over 9 months after I read the book, so some details are a bit hazy. I remember thinking that the book was good, but was lacking something. I don't know what, but I just kept wishing for more. I have the sequels, but haven't yet read them, because I wasn't sure if the series was worth continuing? Any ideas, I'd appreciate them.

I do remember that I enjoyed Sophie. She was naive to start with, but definitely had the building blocks to become Catherine within her. I may finish the series just to see how Sophie becomes Catherine, because I still love the idea of Catherine the Great running the empire over her weak husband.

Let me know if you think this series is something I should persevere with.

Dates Read:
September 26-30, 2016

Rating
3 Stars

#RockMyTBR 2016 Challenge

ARC Review: Traitor to the Throne (Rebel of the Sands #2) by Alwyn Hamilton

10:00

Traitor to the Throne
Series: Rebel of the Sands #2
Author: Alwyn Hamilton
Published February 2nd 2017 by Faber & Faber

Goodreads Synopsis
This is not about blood or love. This is about treason.

Nearly a year has passed since Amani and the rebels won their epic battle at Fahali. Amani has come into both her powers and her reputation as the Blue-Eyed Bandit, and the Rebel Prince's message has spread across the desert - and some might say out of control. But when a surprise encounter turns into a brutal kidnapping, Amani finds herself betrayed in the cruellest manner possible.

Stripped of her powers and her identity, and torn from the man she loves, Amani must return to her desert-girl's instinct for survival. For the Sultan's palace is a dangerous one, and the harem is a viper's nest of suspicion, fear and intrigue. Just the right place for a spy to thrive... But spying is a dangerous game, and when ghosts from Amani's past emerge to haunt her, she begins to wonder if she can trust her own treacherous heart.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Rebel of the Sands was one of my favourite debuts last year, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on the sequel. Traitor to the Throne takes place a few months after the events of Rebel, and we have a completely different type of story this time around. In this case, Amani finds herself kidnapped, and taken to the Sultan's harem to stop her from helping the Rebellion. As a prisoner, she can't do too much, but finds ways to help undermine the Sultan, and aide the Rebellion, from the inside. When rumours of the Blue-Eyed Bandit still working reaches her ears, she finds the person who has been impersonating her, and inducts him to the cause. However, she also has underestimated the Sultan, who uses her powers ad a Demdji for his own benefit in diplomacy, and his heir, Kadir, who wants her, and is enraged when his father says she isn't to be touched - which she never was, thank god!

I enjoyed this book, but do think I preferred Rebel more. Traitor didn't have as much action as book 1, but the political intrigue did make up for this. For the most part, Amani was separated from the other rebels, which wasn't fun, but this book felt like it was more of a filler, setting the scene for the finale. It has definitely added to the plot of the series, and without this book, we wouldn't know as much about the world or the characters.

Amani is still as fiesty and amazing as ever, and the new characters we are introduced to really brought something to the story line. For the majority of the book, Amani was in the Sultan's harem, so we spent time with the other women there, as well as learning about the politics of the world. Though Amani was ultimately a prisoner, the Sultan appreciated her abilities to tell when someone is lying, so she was used as a human lie detector in a lot of political and diplomatic meetings. However, I still missed Amani's life as a bandit, and hope in future instalments we see more from this lifestyle.

Again, there wasn't much by the way of romance, because Amani was separated from Jin. What there was, was enjoyable, but I missed their relationship.

Though I feel like this book was a filler, it did answer some questions from book 1, like what happened to Amani's cousin and best friend, and definitely set the stage for an explosive finale, if that ending is anything to go by. I look forward to having book 3 ASAP!

Dates Read:

February 4-7, 2017

Rating
5 Stars

#RockMyTBR 2016 Challenge

Review: Unconventional by Maggie Harcourt

10:00

Unconventional
Series: None
Author: Maggie Harcourt
Published February 1st 2017 by Usborne Publishing Ltd

Goodreads Synopsis
Lexi Angelo has grown up helping her dad with his events business. She likes to stay behind the scenes, planning and organizing...until author Aidan Green - messy haired and annoyingly arrogant - arrives unannounced at the first event of the year. Then Lexi's life is thrown into disarray.

In a flurry of late-night conversations, mixed messages and butterflies, Lexi discovers that some things can't be planned. Things like falling in love...
Goodreads

Review
I've never been to a convention of any kind, but always hope that one day I'll be able to go to YALC. Everyone who read an early copy of this book was so complimentary, and said it was perfect, that I knew I had to get my hand on a copy.

In Unconventional, Lexi has grown up in the convention world. Her dad has owned an events business, and since Lexi was a little girl, she has been involved, and this year is no different. Because of her involvement in the industry, she was sent a debut novel, hoping that the company would promote the author at future events. When she reads the book, she falls in love with the writing, and the world, but, unfortunately, the author doesn't hold up to her expectations when they first meet. He, Aidan, is so rude and arrogant, that Lexi wishes she hadn't loved the book so much. But, once she realises that Aidan is actually Haydn, and he was only like that because of nerves, she begins to fall for him, though it's hard for them to spend any time together.

I did enjoy this book, but I didn't fall for it as much as everyone else seems to have. For me, it felt really cliched, and not in a good way. I didn't exactly connect to the characters, and felt as though the plot line was a bit disjointed. Lexi snapped a lot, which was understandable with her pressures of school and the amount of work she was doing for the business, but there's no reason why she had to put that pressure on herself. Her dad was capable, as were the adult employees, but she seemed to need to take control of everything or she wasn't comfortable. Also, why did she hate her step-mother to be? There was no reason, and if she had got to know Bea, and listen to her dad, it would have been so much easier.

The relationship between Lexi and Aidan/Haydn was alright, but seemed forced at times. She gushed about how much she loved his book, but never really spoke about any other favourites of hers, whether that is books, films, or TV shows. Everything seemed to be about Haydn, which didn't help the plot at all.

Ultimately, I enjoyed reading the book, but nothing is really memorable, and I don't think I'll read the book again. Some people have compared this book with Rainbow Rowell, but I've not read her YAs, so can't say if that's true. I recently read Geekerella, and I would recommend that book over Unconventional, to anyone wanting a good YA fandom book.

Dates Read:

March 5-8, 2017

Rating
3 Stars

#RockMyTBR 2016 Challenge

Review: Walk on Earth a Stranger (The Gold Seer Trilogy #1) by Rae Carson

10:00

Walk on Earth a Stranger
Series: The Gold Seer Trilogy #1
Author: Rae Carson
Published September 22nd 2015 by Greenwillow Books

Goodreads Synopsis
Gold is in my blood, in my breath, even in the flecks in my eyes.

Lee Westfall has a strong, loving family. She has a home she loves and a loyal steed. She has a best friend—who might want to be something more.

She also has a secret.

Lee can sense gold in the world around her. Veins deep in the earth. Small nuggets in a stream. Even gold dust caught underneath a fingernail. She has kept her family safe and able to buy provisions, even through the harshest winters. But what would someone do to control a girl with that kind of power? A person might murder for it.

When everything Lee holds dear is ripped away, she flees west to California—where gold has just been discovered. Perhaps this will be the one place a magical girl can be herself. If she survives the journey.

The acclaimed Rae Carson begins a sweeping new trilogy set in Gold Rush-era America, about a young woman with a powerful and dangerous gift.
Goodreads

Review
I haven't read anything by this author before, but had heard really good things, and this book called to the historian within me. I'll admit, American history isn't my favourite, but the American west has always been a soft spot of mine, ever since I studied it during my GCSE.

In Walk on Earth a Stranger, our MC, Leah Westfall, has had a pretty cushty life so far. However, when her parents are killed, she has to disguise herself as a boy, and flee as fast as possible west. Why? Well, she's also hiding a secret, one in which she can sense when there's gold nearby, and that's one of the reasons why her father was killed. Her uncle, who is now her guardian, has nefarious goals to do with her, and anything would be better than staying within his grasp. So, she dons male clothes, and boards a steamboat to take her on her way towards the Oregon Trail, facing all the treachery that befalls travellers making the migration west.

I loved Leah. Hands down, she is one of the best protagonists I've ever read. She's perfect for the time period she is in, but she isn't a simpering girl, who needs help at every time. No, she gets things done, and is better than the majority of the other case, male and female. Her snarkiness was perfect, especially when you consider just how difficult the journey was was travellers, with no way of knowing what will befall you at the next turn. Though she is strong, she still is a teenage girl, in a dangerous situation, who has just lost her family. Her vulnerability shows through at times, and it makes her more of a lovable character.

The research Carson must have done for this book definitely shows through. Everything was so vivid, and realisic, that it almost felt like I was there as I was reading along. I'm actually going to be teaching the American West module in a few weeks to my students, and being able to see the true facts in this book made the reading experience that much more enjoyable.

The secondary cast was also perfect. Some of the them were fun, though others did grind on me at times. Leah's best friend, Jefferson, was just what Leah needed, I think. He'd already left for California, and Leah was on her way to meet up with him, because he was the only person she trusted. As she fell into a travelling group, a sort of makeshift family appeared, and each of them cared for Leah in their own ways, though perhaps they didn't always show it. Remember, they are all facing the same hardships, and don't realise that 'Lee' is actually Leah, and she finds it as difficult as they do.

The book is really long at times, though that's to be expected, because travelling across America - a large country, I don't need to remind you - wasn't always fun and games, but I felt the pace was right for the story. There isn't much of a romance, though I think the sequel may have some, and I'm really glad I've got a copy now, because I'll be starting it soon enough. All in all, this was a really enjoyable book, perfect for history and fantasy lovers.

Dates Read:

August 30-September 2, 2016

Rating
4 Stars