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: The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

the retribution of mara dyerThe Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Romance
Published by: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 470
Format: E-Book
Rating: ★★★★
Series:
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (#1) | The Evolution of Mara Dyer (#2)
Where to Find: Goodreads Amazon

This was probably my favourite book in the trilogy. It started out gross. I never thought I’d get to read about someone cutting out another person’s eye. (You can guess I haven’t read A Song of Ice and Fire!) Mara is no longer just troubled but bordering on insane. Everything that’s happening to her is unbelievable and that’s why it’s so interesting to read.

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Review: The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

evolution of mara dyerThe Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Romance
Published by: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 528
Format: E-Book
Rating: ★★★★
Series: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (#1) | The Retribution of Mara Dyer (#3)
Where to Find: Goodreads | Amazon

If I thought the first book was serious, then this took Mara’s story to a whole new level. It’s difficult to write reviews about this series because if I say too much then the whole thing will be spoiled, and I think this is the perfect book series to go into knowing nothing about them, in order to really appreciate the plot twists and darkness.

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Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The UnbecomingThe Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Romance
Published by: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 456
Format: Paperback
Rating: ★★★★
Series:
The Evolution of Mara Dyer (#2) | The Retribution of Mara Dyer (#3)
Where to Find: Goodreads | Amazon

I first read this book at the beginning of 2014, and I can still remember the plot. That is probably the biggest compliment I could give a book, as a lot of YA plots seems to just float out of my head a month after I’ve read it.

Mara Dyer is probably one of the most interesting characters I’ve read about. I don’t think I fully understood the power she possessed at the beginning of the trilogy,. and only really appreciated her situation once I’d finished ‘The Retribution of Mara Dyer.’

Continue reading “Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin”