Book Review #733 - Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter

 

Maddie thought she and Logan would be friends forever. But when your dad is a Secret Service agent and your best friend is the president's son, sometimes life has other plans. Before she knows it, Maddie's dad is dragging her to a cabin in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness.

No phone.
No Internet.
And not a single word from Logan.

Maddie tells herself it's okay. After all, she's the most popular girl for twenty miles in any direction. (She’s also the only girl for twenty miles in any direction.) She has wood to cut and weapons to bedazzle. Her life is full.
Until Logan shows up six years later . . .
And Maddie wants to kill him.

But before that can happen, an assailant appears out of nowhere, knocking Maddie off a cliff and dragging Logan to some unknown fate. Maddie knows she could turn back- and get help. But the weather is turning and the terrain will only get more treacherous, the animals more deadly.

Maddie still really wants to kill Logan.
But she has to save him first. 

 

 

My Rating: 7/10

 

 

I received this book for review from Scholastic Australia.

 

I have previously read two books by Ally Carter, neither of which really impressed me but I did end up enjoying this one much more than I thought I would.

 

The only issue I had overall with this book is that the blurb does not accurately describe the book.

 

I loved the fact that the book starts with Maddie and Logan as children where they are best friends as it made it impossible to not want them to end up together.

 

I found this book really fast paced with a lot of plot twists throughout that helped speed up the reading process.

 

The book was also a lot lighter and cheesy for a thriller novel but that again helped me read it as fast as I did so that was an unexpected positive.

 

I loved that this book was set primarily in Alaska as I am pretty sure I have never read a book set there before and the scale of isolation endured there by the characters added to the overall thriller element in the story.

 

Maddie was an extremely smart and resourceful character who took no nonsense from anybody whilst Lucas grew up and matured over the course of the book.

 

 

Book Review #687 - The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Beautiful, flaxen-haired Buttercup has fallen for Westley, the farm boy, and when he departs to make his fortune, she vows never to love another. So when she hears that his ship has been captured by the Dread Pirate Roberts (no survivors) her heart is broken. But her charms draw the attention of the relentless Prince Humperdinck who wants a wife and will go to any lengths to have Buttercup. So starts a fairy tale like no other, of fencing, poison, true love, hate, revenge, giants, bad men, good men, snakes, spiders, chases, escapes, lies, truths, passion and miracles, and ... a damn fine story.

My Rating: 4.5/5

This book contained just about everything you could possibly want in a book - action, romance, good v evil, and even a fairytale like plot. 

The book has a very timeless feel to it in that it feels like it was written centuries ago not in the 1970's. 

The characters were my favourite aspect of this book simply because they were all unique and memorable. My favourite character was Inigo and I loved his whole quest for revenge. 

Like the characters, the writing style was unique. It reads as a book within a book with the author acting as though he is annotating an original of the same story. There were one or two occasions where I felt like this was ruining the flow of the story but mostly I loved it. 

The comedic moments in this book (which is a lot) stems from the fact that no point does this book ever take itself seriously. 

I have now read more than a few books on the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die List and this book is better than almost all of them so I am not sure how this book did not make the list. 

Book Review #686 - Stormbreaker (Alex Rider #1) by Anthony Horowitz

They told him his uncle died in a car accident. Fourteen-year-old Alex knows that's a lie, and the bullet holes in his uncle's windshield confirm his suspicions. But nothing prepares him for the news that the uncle he always thought he knew was really a spy for MI6 Britain's top secret intelligence agency. Recruited to find his uncle's killers and complete his final mission, Alex suddenly finds himself caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

My Rating: 2.5/5

This book was fast paced and full of action and adventure from the very first page. 

Alex Rider is a reluctant hero, but entertaining protagonist. His introduction into the life of a spy was a little rushed and I wished there was more build up to the training aspect of it, especially if we are to believe later on that Alex is a professional. 

I've never really been a fan of the espionage genre so the fact that this book takes a rather simplistic approach to the topic was a huge positive for me. 

The plot was rather unbelievable and the amount of action really tried to cover up this fact which might work for the children the book is targeted for, but for me it was annoying. 

This is a really long series, in fact it takes up almost an entire shelf on my TBR and so I'm interested to see how the characters and more significantly, the plot develop. 

Also, funnily enough soon after finishing this book my nephew randomly picked this movie out on Netflix to watch and like almost every single book to movie adaptation, the book was 100% better. 

Book Review #667 - Library of Souls (Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children #3) by Ransom Riggs

The adventures that began with Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and continued with Hollow City comes to a thrilling conclusion with Library of Souls.

As the story opens, sixteen-year-old Jacob discovers a powerful new ability, and soon he’s diving through history to rescue his peculiar companions from a heavily guarded fortress. Accompanying Jacob on his journey are Emma Bloom, a girl with fire at her fingertips, and Addison MacHenry, a dog with a nose for sniffing out lost children.

They’ll travel from modern-day London to the labyrinthine alleys of Devil’s Acre, the most wretched slum in all of Victorian England. It’s a place where the fate of peculiar children everywhere will be decided once and for all. 

Like its predecessors, Library of Souls blends thrilling fantasy with never-before-published vintage photography.

My Rating: 4/5

Given the way Hollow City ended, I can't believe I managed to wait a week before picking up the third and final book in this exhilarating trilogy. 

This book wasn't as action packed as Hollow City nor did it have the tone I loved so much in the first book, but I think that this book is probably my favourite in the series just because of the serious plot developments. 

Addison the talking dog plays a bigger role in this book which I loved because who doesn't want an incredibly brave, talking dog constantly saving the day? (better than a cat anyway). 

I still had issues with the romance in that I still don't feel the connection between Jacob and Emma. I think that maybe this is because Emma used to be Jacob's grandfathers girlfriend and that creeps me out a little. 

I loved the way all the peculiar children worked together in Hollow City and so I was a little disappointed that they were all separated for the large majority of this installment.

The ending was completely unexpected (in a good way) and I think this series could not possibly have ended in a better way. The only question that I have now is what really happened to Fiona?    

Book Review #661 - Hollow City (Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children #2) by Ransom Riggs

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children was the surprise best seller of 2011—an unprecedented mix of YA fantasy and vintage photography that enthralled readers and critics alike. Publishers Weekly called it “an enjoyable, eccentric read, distinguished by well-developed characters, a believable Welsh setting, and some very creepy monsters.”

This second novel begins in 1940, immediately after the first book ended. Having escaped Miss Peregrine’s island by the skin of their teeth, Jacob and his new friends must journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. Along the way, they encounter new allies, a menagerie of peculiar animals, and other unexpected surprises.

Complete with dozens of newly discovered (and thoroughly mesmerizing) vintage photographs, this new adventure will delight readers of all ages.

My Rating: 4.5/5

This book follows on straight from where the first book ended and wastes no time before setting forth with Jacob and the peculiars on the next exciting adventure. 

I loved the idea of a book within a book - The Tales of the Peculiar and the stories within.

The character development in this book was substantial with not only the the characters themselves but their peculiar abilities. 

The pictures in this book were always included in the most perfect moments and really complimented the story. I didn't like the pictures as much as the ones in the first book though. 

There were also numerous plot twists late in the book that I never saw coming and now I can't wait to read book 3. 

Book Review #659 - Article 5 (Article 5 #1) by Kristen Simmons

New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.

The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.

There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back.

Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard for her to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It’s hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.

Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.

That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.

My Rating: 3/5

Dystopia is one of my favourite genres though this one fell a little flat for me.

Like with most dystopians this book takes place after a world changing war. I would have liked the reason or cause of the war to have been expanded upon as there was absolutely no depth in this area. 

Ember, the protagonist was frustrating at times but I mostly enjoyed her unique voice. 

The book bills itself, and actually sets off as a story about an ultra strict government when in fact it is more a roadtrip book with a dystopian backdrop. 

I didn't particularly like Chase - the male love interest and I think this was because there was so much history between he and Ember before the book starts and so I felt rather distanced from not only him, but his relationship with Ember. 

Book Review #647 - The Rain (The Rain #1) by Virginia Bergin

It's in the rain...and just one drop will kill you.

They don't believe it at first. Crowded in Zach's kitchen, Ruby and the rest of the partygoers laugh at Zach's parents' frenzied push to get them all inside as it starts to drizzle. But then the radio comes on with the warning, "It's in the rain! It's fatal, it's contagious, and there's no cure."

Two weeks later, Ruby is alone. Anyone who's been touched by rain or washed their hands with tap water is dead. The only drinkable water is quickly running out. Ruby's only chance for survival is a treacherous hike across the country to find her father-if he's even still alive.

My Rating: 4.5/5

As a huge fan of the dystopian genre, I was really intrigued by the premise of this book as it seemed so unique compared to others in the genre. 

Firstly, the book is set in the current day, not decades or even centuries into the future where a dystopian society has already begun. 

Secondly, there are no zombies, aliens or controlling governments. Instead, the earth's most needed resource water is the ultimate villain. 

When I first started this book I loved how open and honest Ruby (the protagonist) was. It was almost like she had no filter and I loved this because I felt like I truly knew her. 

Ruby's relationship with her step-father Simon was a favourite dynamic of mine in the book. Ruby went from hating him unconditionally to having to completely trust him. 

I loved how Ruby rescued all the neighbourhood dogs and transported them around with her as this is something that I could see myself doing in that situation. 

There were moments though where I wanted to reach into the book and slap Ruby. For example, she walks outside with no protection from the rain and she seemed more concerned about her physical appearance than her actual wellbeing. Like instead of thinking of sources of clean water, she is raiding shops for makeup and clothing. 

The whole romantic aspect between Ruby and Darius did not impact the story at all and felt rather out of place in the story. 

The way the book ended I am glad that I have already ordered the sequel entitled The Storm. 

Book Review #645 - The Infinite Sea (The 5th Wave #2) by Rick Yancey

The riveting follow-up to the New York Times bestselling The 5th Wave, hailed by Justin Cronin as “wildly entertaining.”

How do you rid the Earth of seven billion humans? Rid the humans of their humanity.

Surviving the first four waves was nearly impossible. Now Cassie Sullivan finds herself in a new world, a world in which the fundamental trust that binds us together is gone. As the 5th Wave rolls across the landscape, Cassie, Ben, and Ringer are forced to confront the Others’ ultimate goal: the extermination of the human race.

Cassie and her friends haven’t seen the depths to which the Others will sink, nor have the Others seen the heights to which humanity will rise, in the ultimate battle between life and death, hope and despair, love and hate.

My Rating: 3.5/5

I picked up this book after about a year since I read The 5th Wave. 

The Infinite Sea doesn't offer anything in way of refreshers in order to help those who hadn't recently read The 5th Wave like myself. 

Due to this, I was a little confused to begin with as to who all the characters were. It wasn't until Cassie was the narrator that I found some stability with the story. 

The last quarter of the book (when it is told from Ringer's perspective) was rather slow and boring although developed the plot immensely. 

I will probably have to reread both The 5th Wave and this book before I read the third and final book in the trilogy The Last Star to prevent being confused like this time. 

Book Review #644 - How to Train Your Dragon (How to Train Your Dragon #1) by Cressida Cowell

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is a truly extraordinary Viking hero known throughout Vikingdom as "the Dragon Whisperer"...but it wasn't always so. Travel back to the days when the mighty warrior was just a boy, the quiet and thoughtful son of the Chief of the Hairy Hooligans. Can Hiccup capture a dragon and train it without being torn limb from limb? Join the adventure as the small boy finds a better way to train his dragon and become a hero!

My Rating: 5/5

I absolutely love the film/TV adaptations of this book and its sequels and so I was surprised to find that the book was of the same quality. 

There are so many differences between the book and the film that I won't go into them except to mention the one that I loved the most and that was the fact that Toothless and the other dragons are able to talk in the book. 

I loved the adventure you can only find in children's books and am definitely adding this series to the list of books I will give to my nephews when they are old enough to read. 

Book Review #643 - Heist Society (Heist Society #1) by Ally Carter

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre…to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria…to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own—scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring Kat back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has a good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.

For Kat, there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family's history--and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

My Rating: 2.5/5

This book has been on my TBR shelf for the longest time. It wasn't until I was rearranging my library and came across it that I decided it was about time I finally read it. 

From the very beginning I had problems with this book, mainly the complete lack of depth. 

I found it incredibly difficult to get into the book. The characters were all one-dimensional, shallow and superficial to me and the plot was far fetched and rather boring. 

I felt like this was the second book in a series as there was so much back story that was not explained, or was rushed over like I was expected to already know what they were talking about. 

Overall, I did not particularly enjoy this book at all and at this stage will not be picking up the sequels. 

Book Review #638 - Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3) by Sarah J. Maas

My Rating: 4/5


Source: Bought


Goodreads

Consumed by guilt and rage, Celaena can't bring herself to spill blood for the King of Adarlan. She must fight back...

The Immortal Queen will help her destroy the king - for a price. But as Celaena battles with her darkest memories and her heart breaks for a love that could never last, can she fulfil the bargain and head the almighty court of Terrasen? And who will stand with her? 

Given the way Crown of Midnight ended you might have thought I would have started this one straight away. However, because of a poorly timed family holiday I was unable to pick this book up until about a week later. 

I thought that Throne of Glass was rather simplistic for a fantasy novel and the perfect set up for the rest of the series. Crown of Midnight added so much depth and development to all the key areas. Heir of Fire however seemed to try to do too much. 

The book follows three different storylines - Celaena, Chaol and the new character Manna. The only issue I had with this was that I found that it disrupted the rhythm and flow of the story. 

The universe in this book expanded so much in this book that I think it warranted multiple maps like The Song of Ice and Fire series. 

Rowan was a character that I found rather cold at first, but his unwavering loyalty towards Celaena won me over eventually. 

I have mixed opinions about Dorian. On his own, I find him boring and dull. When he is with Chaol or Celaena however, he is quite interesting. 

I loved the amount of backstory that was given about Celaena's past and am looking forward to continuing on with the series. 

Book Review #637 - Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2) by Sarah J.Maas

My Rating: 4/5


Source: Bought


Goodreads

Crowned by Evil.

Bound by Duty.

Divided by Love.

Celaena Sardothien, royal assassin, is the King of Adarlan's deadliest weapon. She must win her freedom through his enemies' blood - but she cannot bear to kill for the crown. And every death Celaena fakes, every lie she tells, put those she loves at risk.

Torn between her two protectors - a captain and a prince - and battling a dark force far greater than the king, Celaena must decide what she will fight for: her liberty, her heart or the fate of a kingdom... 

Throne of Glass was a book that I enjoyed, but also a book that I had a number of issues with. 

Crown of Midnight however is my favourite second in a series book since Catching Fire. 

Celaena becomes more of the bad ass she was supposed to have been in TOG and I think this is due to the amount of time she spent with Chaol. I think that both of them as characters really feed off one another and bring out the best traits in one another. 

Whilst Dorian is a character that I really don't have any problems with, the relationship between Chaol and Celaena was a lot more believable and real than his relationship with Celaena. 

Chaol having to face his family and getting his loyalty questioned really opened his character up and enabled enormous character development. 

Dorian was a character that really surprised me and proves that I was obviously underestimating him by only seeing him as the third point on a love triangle. He is a lot stronger than I gave him credit for. 

I love the setting as well, it has a very cinematic feel to it and I so I would really love to see some kind of movie/TV adaptation of this series. 

There were so many plot twists throughout this book but the ending was completely unexpected. 

I had planned on reading another book after this one, but with that ending I had no choice but to pick up book 3 Heir of Fire. 

 

Book Review #633 - The Lost Hero (Heroes of Olympus #1) by Rick Riordan

My Rating: 3/5


Source: Bought


Goodreads













Jason has a problem. He doesn't remember anything before waking up on a school bus holding hands with a girl. Apparently she's his girlfriend Piper, his best friend is a kid named Leo, and they're all students in the Wilderness School, a boarding school for "bad kids." What he did to end up here, Jason has no idea-except that everything seems very wrong.

Piper has a secret. Her father has been missing for three days, and her vivid nightmares reveal that he's in terrible danger. Now her boyfriend doesn't recognize her, and when a freak storm and strange creatures attack during a school field trip, she, Jason, and Leo are whisked away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood. What is going on?

Leo has a way with tools. His new cabin at Camp Half-Blood is filled with them. Seriously, the place beats Wilderness School hands down, with its weapons training, monsters, and fine-looking girls. What's troubling is the curse everyone keeps talking about, and that a camper's gone missing. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist they are all-including Leo-related to a god.

I loved The Percy Jackson books by Rick Riordan but didn't particularly enjoy The Red Pyramid (the first book in Riordan's Kane Chronicles series). The main issue I had with TRP was that it was too long and drawn out.

For that reason, I really wasn't if I was going to like The Lost Hero or not as whilst it is set back in the Percy Jackson universe, it is of a similar length to TRP.

I started off really enjoying this book. The three characters Jason, Piper and Leo were all fresh and interesting.

I am not sure when it started but I thought that whilst I was still enjoying the story, the book wasn't really going anywhere and was taking me way too long to read it.

I love that some characters from the PJO series made appearances in this book especially Annabeth - and I am looking forward to Percy making an appearance in this series.

There was a lot of action in this book and like with all Riordan's books there was an amazing depth to the mythology.

This book felt a lot more mature than the PJO series and yet I felt like the writing stayed the same. This seemed to clash at times. 

I felt there were perhaps too many gods and creature of the like introduced. The glossary at the back helped but there didn't need to be as many as there were.

Overall, I was a little disappointed with this book, but am eager to read the rest of the series.

Book Review #631 - Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1) by Sarah J. Maas

My Rating: 4/5 


Source: Bought


Goodreads













Meet Celaena Sardothien.

Beautiful. Deadly.
Destined for greatness.

In the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen-year-old girl is serving a life sentence. She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind, but she made a fatal mistake: she got caught.

Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celaena must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament—fighting the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. Live or die, Celaena will be free. Win or lose, she is about to discover her true destiny. But will her assassin’s heart be melted?

I went into this book with a lot of expectations. I mean the hype surrounding this book is HUGE which is also probably the reason it has taken me this long to finally read it.

I loved this book immensely but overall I wanted more from it.

There were so many interesting things in this book for example the contest Celaena and the others were participating in and the mysterious creature that was killing them off one by one. Unfortunately though, I didn't feel like these blended that well together.

Celaena is definitely a strong, independent female protagonist but I felt that we were told that rather than shown it.

I lost count the amount of times Celaena was referred to as "the assassin" like we had to be constantly reminded of this fact.

The romance in this book was surprisingly well timed and developed (even though I found Dorian really dull). I am a bit worried though about a love triangle potentially developing.

The only negative thing I can say about the romantic aspect was that it was way too dominant and took focus away from some of the other stuff like the contests.

Overall, I really loved the tone of this book and am really excited to continue on with this series.

Book Review #618 - The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles #1) by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi

My Rating: 4/5


Source: Bought


Buy: The Book Depository


Goodreads

When the three Grace children -- Mallory, Jared, and Simon -- and their mom move into Aunt Lucinda's old house, readers know there's magic afoot. The kids uncover a nest of assembled junk, and on a visit to the secret library via the dumbwaiter, Jared finds a note describing "my secret to all mankind." After a few mysterious pranks that get blamed on Jared, the boy finally digs up the real prize: Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You. Fortunately enough, the kids meet one of the critters listed in the guide -- a brownie named Thimbletack -- who makes it all "real" and helps provide the book's suspenseful conclusion: "'Throw the book away, toss it in a fire. If you do not heed, you will draw their ire.'

I had really high expectations for this book as it sounded interesting, I had heard nothing but amazing things about it and it sounded like something I would like. 

The sibling relationships especially between brother and sister was really accurately portrayed and I loved the whole family dynamic. 

The only negative thing I can say about this book is that it was way too short! I wanted so much more from it. 

This is definitely another series I am planning on buying my nephew when he is older. 

I am now really looking forward to reading the rest of the series and then maybe checking out the movie adaptation. 

Book Review #617 - The 100 (The 100 #1) by Kass Morgan

My Rating: 4.5/5


Source: Bought


Buy: The Book Depository


Goodreads

Ever since a devastating nuclear war, humanity has lived on spaceships far above Earth's radioactive surface. Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents -- considered expendable by society -- are being sent on a dangerous mission: to recolonize the planet. It could be their second chance at life...or it could be a suicide mission.

CLARKE was arrested for treason, though she's haunted by the memory of what she really did. WELLS, the chancellor's son, came to Earth for the girl he loves -- but will she ever forgive him? Reckless BELLAMY fought his way onto the transport pod to protect his sister, the other half of the only pair of siblings in the universe. And GLASS managed to escape back onto the ship, only to find that life there is just as dangerous as she feared it would be on Earth.

Confronted with a savage land and haunted by secrets from their pasts, the hundred must fight to survive. They were never meant to be heroes, but they may be mankind's last hope. 

I have heard nothing but good things about not only this book (and the series) but its TV adaptation as well. 

When I first started reading this book I thought that there were way too many characters and I couldn't keep track of them individually. It is told similarly like Pretty Little Liars where there are multiple narrators that change from chapter to chapter. 

Once the characters individual personalities developed (which didn't take that long) I was hooked and couldn't put the book down. 

I would have liked more in the world building area as I had so many unanswered questions in this regard. 

The way the book ended was totally unexpected and I really need to get my hands on the sequel as soon as possible. 

Book Review #599 - William the Conqueror vs King Harold by Jesse Lee Vint

My Rating: 3/5


Source: The Author


Buy: The Book Depository


Goodreads





THE STORY THAT HAS NEVER BEEN TOLD! Even rarer than the appearance of Halley’s Comet in the year 1066 A.D. was the appearance of three undefeated warrior kings that same year. All three of these warrior kings felt that they had a claim to the British crown, and all three were intrepid fighters who were well known for never taking a step backward. For this reason 1066 was a historical year unlike any other. 

Normandy’s William the Conqueror is one of the most dashing, powerful, and massively influential figures in all of world history. Equally fascinating is Harold Godwinson, crowned King Harold II of England in January of 1066. Norway’s Haarald (Hard Rule) Hardrada, the incomparable Viking warrior king, also played a central role in the destiny of the world in that amazing year. 

These two historical giants, William and Harold, became the greatest of friends -- and the worst of enemies. Caught in the middle of this raging storm that resulted in The Battle of Hastings was Princess Adelize, the young and beautiful daughter of William, and the devoted fiancé of King Harold II. 

Humor! Heart! History! These are the three words that define this historical saga that is written in the style of an Arthurian adventure novel.

I am always looking for interesting books in genres I don't normally read and this book really hit that mark for me. 

William the Conqueror is a historical figure that I have heard of, but just didn't know that much about. I loved that this book blended the historical elements with an interesting and likable plot. 

The book had a very cinematic feel to it so it was not surprising that soon after finishing it I discovered it had originally been written as a screenplay. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I loved the time period that it was set in. 

I would recommend this book to readers of all genres as it blends a wide variety of genres really well and everyone is bound to find something they like with this book. 

Book Review #596 - The Dog, Ray by Linda Coggin

My Rating: 4/5

Source: The Five Mile Press

Buy: Booktopia

Goodreads

A girl, a dog, a boy, a journey

'When my death came, it was swift. Swift as a racing horse.'

Twelve-year-old Daisy has just died in a car crash. But in a twist of fate, and through a heavenly bureaucratic mistake Daisy ends up, not where she is supposed to be - but in the body of a dog. Daisy may now be inhabiting a dog's body, but inside she is still very much Daisy, and is as bouncy, loyal, positive, energetic as she ever was. 

Daisy's only thought is to somehow be reunited with her parents, who she knows will be missing her. And this is how she meets Pip, a boy who is homeless and on his own journey, and a lasting, tender and very moving friendship between boy and dog/girl is formed.

I love dogs and so this book appealed to me as it is told from the perspective of a dog. 

The book begins with the death of a 12 year old girl. I know this sounds a little dark for a children's book, but where there is death there is also life which is where this fantastic little adventure begins. 

There is a mix-up in the afterlife and 12 year old Daisy gets reincarnated as a dog! At first she is adamant on tracking down her parents but being a dog communication is impossible. 

The portrayal of life as a dog was realistic. The voice as a dog was the best thing about this book. I loved how excitable, loyal and likable she was. 

When Daisy meets Pip, a boy who has problems of his own, and her memories of her previous life as a human start to fade she finally finds happiness in her new life as The Dog, Ray. 

Book Review #593 - Outlander (Outlander #1) by Diana Gabaldon

My Rating: 4.5/5

Source: Bought

Buy: The Book Depository

Goodreads

The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is just back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an “outlander”—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of Our Lord . . . 1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life, and shatter her heart. For here James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire—and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

I was curious how I was going to see this book as on one hand I'm not the biggest fan of time travel book or romance books but on the other hand I love historical fiction (especially in the British era). 

The historical element was my favourite aspect of the book of the book. Like the characters, it was very realistic and reading it was like being transported to that time period not unlike Claire. 

The men of that era, although savage like and thinking very little of women were accurately portrayed for that time period. 

The book alludes to a lot of historical moments such as the Irish Potato Famine and the Jacobite Risings and I am looking forward to hopefully seeing these and more develop. 

I had mixed feelings towards the protagonist Claire as I found her rather annoying at times but for the most part I did like her. 

The differences between Claire's era (1946) and the era she magically transports herself to (1746) are endless and for that reason I didn't think that enough was explained illustrating that point. I also didn't think it was very accurate how quickly Claire adjusts herself to her new world. 

There are so many graphic moments in this book (especially at the end) that if I had not become so heavily invested in the book I would definitely stopped reading. It was more the non-romantic graphic scenes that I didn't particularly care for. 

The pacing of this book was all over the place. There were times where I just wondered where the plot was going and other times when I simply couldn't put the book down. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and hope to read the sequel soon.