Spring Recommends

Previously, we have given some Christmas Recommends. This is something we’d like to do more of! As part of our seasonal recommends, we bring you the best books to read during the season of new beginnings!

the iron king1. ‘The Iron King’ by Julie Kagawa
Faery tales are absolutely perfect for the spring time! The scenery is perfectly decked out for the spring time, although The Iron King has a technological twist that really makes this faery world stand out. Spring is the best time for faery revelry and discovering new worlds, and Julie Kagawa’s faeries certainly won’t disappoint.

The Unbecoming2. ‘The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer’ by Michelle Hodkin 
Spring is all about NEW. Mara Dyer was neither contemporary, a fairy-tale retelling or a dystopian; the genres I find myself reading from most. So, to read a book that was so far outside my comfort zone, I couldn’t even see it on the horizon, was an excellent decision. I think the best label for this series is ‘supernatural thriller’. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, as you’d expect from spring recommends, but if you don’t mind unnatural powers, mild gore and oodles of sexual tension, I’d totally recommend picking this book up! (You’ll be in for a wild ride!)

To All the Boys3. ‘To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before’ by Jenny Han
However, if sunshine and rainbows books are more your thing, ‘To All The Boys’ is the perfect read (and basically anything else Jenny Han has written too!) Concerned with boy trouble and romantic solutions, Lara Jean and her adorable family are sure to entertain you on a warm-weathered afternoon.

why we broke up4. ‘Why We Broke Up’ by Daniel Handler
This book is all about getting over a broken heart (well, we’ve all read the title.) Min, our protagonist, takes us through the story of her relationship with Ed, from the halcyon days of holding hards and sweet kisses, to the dark days of smashing cups and stomping on flowers. So, yes, it’s kind of depressing. BUT it’s also all about new beginnings and letting go of whatever’s holding you back – the perfect springtime outlook!

160968245. ‘A Court of Thorns and Roses’ by Sarah J Maas
What’s better than one book about fairies? Two books about fairies! If Mara Dyer was stepping out of my comfort zone, this book was very much in the centre of my ‘favourite types of books’ Venn diagram. With most of the plot taking place in the spring, and in the Spring Court of the fairy world, this book pretty much hits the recommendation on the nose.

Review: Champion by Marie Lu

14290364Champion by Marie Lu
Genre: Dystopian, Sci-Fi, Romance
Published by: Penguin
Pages: 400
Format: e-book
Rating:★★★★
Series: Legend (#1) | Prodigy (#2)
Where to Find: Goodreads | Amazon

I have started and completed this series in the space of four days, and now that it’s over I can feel the post-series depression settling in. Legend was my first 5 star review of the year, and now when anybody asks me what my favourite books are this series will definitely be in the roll-call. Champion was a bittersweet ending to this incredible series. It was fast paced and the plot was just as intricately woven as it’s predecessors. Marie Lu really had written something special.  Continue reading “Review: Champion by Marie Lu”

Review: Prodigy by Marie Lu

13414446Prodigy by Marie Lu
Genre: Dystopian, Action, Sci-Fi
Published by: Speak
Pages: 370
Format: e-book
Rating: ★★★★.5
Series: Legend (#1) | Champion (#3)
Where to Find: Goodreads | Amazon

Prodigy is just as action packed as its predecessor, with added heart-wrenching moments! Day and June’s story continues in this epic sequel that takes place right after the end of Legend. I can’t seem to get enough of this series. If I’m not in the middle of reading the next book then I’m looking at fan art or reading as many raving reviews as I can. This series is amazing, and Prodigy did not disappoint as a sequel, even though you often find “second-book syndrome” in trilogies Prodigy didn’t feel like it was written solely with the purpose to get to the end.

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Review: Legend by Marie Lu

15753977Legend by Marie Lu
Genre: Dystopian, Action, Sci-Fi
Published by: Speak
Pages: 305
Format: e-book
Rating: ★★★★★
Series: Prodigy (#2) | Champion (#3)
Where to Find: Goodreads | Amazon

I haven’t given a five star review in what feels like forever, but I can say with absolute certainty that Legend is a five star book. The action never stops, and it’s the perfect mix of everything good about dystopian fiction. It was thrilling and fast-paced, I loved the characters, and the Oh No! and WHAT? moments. Legend had me on the edge of my seat. I was literally unable to put it down. I may even go as far as today Legend is the best book I have read so far this year.

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Review: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

8709527Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
Genre: Paranormal (Vampires), Romance
Published by: Razorbill
Pages: 421
Format: Paperback
Rating: ★★★
Series: The Golden Lily (#2) | The Indigo Spell (#3) | The Fiery Heart (#4) | Silver Shadows (#5) | The Ruby Circle (#6)
Where to Find: Goodreads | Amazon

I am so unbelievably happy to be back in the world of the damphir and Moroi! Not to mention the Alchemists, which is the category that protagonist Sydney falls into. So there might not be any Rose and Lissa, but fans of the Vampire Academy series are bound to love this new spin-off series just as much – I know I did!

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Review: Starters by Lissa Price

15797745Starters by Lissa Price
Genre: Sci-Fi
Published by: Corgi
Pages: 336
Format: Paperback
Rating: ★★
Where to Find: Goodreads | Amazon

Starters is incredibly fast paced, and if I’m honest, rather confusing to begin with. We’re thrown straight into the world and the story picks up with Callie, the protagonist, visiting a ‘body bank.’ I thought this book was going to be a lot more sci-fi than it actually was. Starters focussed more on character relationships, which meant it took quite a while for the plot to pick up.

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Review: Geek Girl – All That Glitters by Holly Smale

all that glittersGeek Girl: All That Glitters by Holly Smale
Genre: Contemporary, Humour
Published by: HarperCollins
Pages: 430
Format: ARC E-Book
Rating: ★★★.5
Where to Find: Goodreads | Amazon

The fourth book in the Geek Girl series maintained the same level of humour and fun that the other three books in the series uphold! ‘All That Glitters’ took Harriet on a new adventure: being a Sixth Form student! (Such a nice change from the plethora of secondary school settings out there!)

Harriet’s venture into sixth form shouldn’t dissuade a younger reader from continuing the series – she’s still the same geeky, bubbly girl she was in secondary. Although, we were expecting Harriet’s voice to mature as she became a young adult, we’re sure this will happen in the subsequent books, as she went through some major character development by the end of the book.

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Review: Extras by Scott Westerfeld

extrasExtras by Scott Westerfeld
Genre: Dystopian, Adventure
Published by: Simon Pulse
Pages: 417
Format: Paperback
Rating: ★★★
Where to Find: Goodreads | Amazon

This book takes place three years after ‘Specials’ in a completely different city. ‘Extras’ is based on a world where reputation is everything. In a Tumblr-esque way, resident ‘kick’ and ‘re-kick’ news stories in order to gain popularity. The more popular you are, the higher your rank and the more privileges you earn as a result. Out of the one million citizens, to be considered famous, you need a ranking of at least 1,000 or above.

It’s too bad that our protagonist, Aya, is about 450,000. ‘Extras’ follows Aya quest for fame and how far the fifteen-year-old will go in order to come out on top.

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Review: The Uglies Trilogy by Scott Westerfeld

uglies seriesThe Uglies Series by Scott Westerfeld
Genre: Dystopian, Adventure
Published by: Simon Pulse
Format: E-Book
Rating: ★★.5
Where to Find: GoodReads | Amazon

A sticker on the Uglies series reads,  ‘Before the Hunger Games there was….’ This is one of my pet peeves, which probably deserves a post by itself. The idea that there were dystopian books before ‘The Hunger Games’ rose to popularity seems to astound people.

The concept of this series is all people are born ugly. When they turn sixteen, they become pretty, through surgery and genetic implants. It was interesting to read a book that discussed beauty and how its presented in a way that didn’t seem glaringly obvious. When you pick up this book, you’re not bombarded with a social agenda to redefine beauty. Tally, the protagonist, just wants to be pretty. Shay, her best friend, doesn’t.

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Review: The Storm by Virginia Bergin

the stormThe Storm by Virginia Bergin
Genre: Apocalyptic
Published by: Pan Macmillan
Pages: 304
Format: ARC E-Book
Rating: ★★
Series: The Rain (#1)
Where to Find: Goodreads | Amazon

I’d didn’t quite realise that this book was set 3 MONTHS after the first book. Ruby managed to survive on her own for 3 MONTHS? It must be easier than I thought! But, I began to warm up to Ruby. She was more comfortable in her situation and not so whiny. It’s fair to say that she went through some character development for her personality, but her actions sure didn’t change.

Continue reading “Review: The Storm by Virginia Bergin”