Book Review | The Strange & Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton.

"Magical realism, lyrical rose, and the pain and passion of human love haunt this hypnotic generational saga.

Foolish love appears to be the Roux family birthright, an ominous forecast for its most recent progeny, Ava Lavender. Ava - in all other ways a normal girl - is born with the wings of a bird.

In a quest to understand her peculiar disposition and a growing desire to fit in with her peers, sixteen-year old Ava ventures into the wider world, ill-prepared for what she might discover and naive to the twisted motives of others. Others like the pious Nathaniel Sorrows, who mistakes Ava for an angel and whose obsession with her grows until the night of the Summer Solstice celebration.

That night, the skies open up, rain and feathers fill the air, and Ava's quest and her family's saga build to a devastating crescendo.

First-time author Leslye Walton has constructed a layered and unforgettable mythology of what it means to be born with hearts that are tragically, exquisitely human." (synopsis and picture from (x).

This book is kind of intensely amazing.

Before I bought this book, all I'd heard about it was that it was magical realism and that it had the most gorgeous prose ever. Both of these things happened to be true. The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender is quite unlike anything I've ever read. So, to pass it on, this is all I'm going to tell you about the story (let's just disregard that I gave you a summary a couple sentences up, yes?)

Before I begin this review though, I just need to give a PSA about this book. The title and the blurb are a little deceiving. While yes, Ava Lavender is a character and narrator in the book, she certainly isn't the focal point. The book itself looks at her whole family - all the way from her great-grandmother to herself.

Ok, now onto the actual review.

As I mentioned above, the book has insanely gorgeous writing. It completely sucks you in. There is such a tragic tone to it. If the title doesn't give you the idea that this book is sad, the writing certainly will.

Speaking of which, this is a sad, sad book. Like, if you don't deal with death very well, do not read this book. I think that because there's so much, it gives off the impression that the book shouldn't be classified as YA.

Also because of this, the book comes off as very dark. It definitely isn't one of those light reads for the summer. Because of the magical realism elements, the author allowed herself to play around with the darker moments of the story (like all the deaths). I was browsing the review section in GoodReads and I saw someone say that the book is a throwback to the traditional fairytales, and I completely agree.

It was strangely wonderful.

My one and only problem with the book is that I feel a slight disconnect from it. Let me explain. While I was certainly engaged in the story line, I found myself not feeling for the characters. It was as if there was a barrier between myself and them. I only really start feeling for them in the last few pages.

Perhaps this was done on purpose - I'm not sure. In traditional fairytales, you never totally feel for the characters - they're just a device in which a moral is told. Unfortunately however, it did really detract from the novel for me.

Overall though, this is a thoroughly unique read. It's quite like nothing else I've read this year. 4 stars.

Rating: **** (4 Stars)

Publisher: Walker Books Australia

Publication Date: March 27th 2014

Goodreads | Leslye Walton's Website | Twitter

Want to buy the book? You can get it here:

Book Depository | Fishpond | Bookworld | Amazon

This review will also appear on Book Nerd Reviews

Book Review | Take Back The Skies by Lucy Saxon.

"Catherine Hunter is the daughter of a senior government official on the island of Anglya. She's one of the privileged - she has luxurious clothes, plenty to eat, and is protected from the Collections which have ravaged families throughout the land. But Catherine longs to escape the confines of her life, before her dad can marry her off to a government brat and trap her forever.

So Catherine becomes Cat, pretends to be a kid escaping the Collections, and stows away on the skyship Stormdancer. As they leave Anglya behind and brave the storms that fill the skies around the islands of Tellus, Cat's world becomes more turbulent than she could ever have imagined, and dangerous secrets unravel her old life once and for all." (synopsis from (x).

I want to start off with a big round of applause for the author. She's my age! She's my age and has already published a book! She makes my achievements feel thoroughly inferior!

Now, getting onto the actual review.

Catherine Hunter has lived a very sheltered life in the aristocratic sector of Anglya. She has been privy to luxury, and not being apart of the country's Collections. However, she is not happy. This is not the life she wants to lead. So, she runs away and becomes 'Cat,' a street rat. Stowing away on the Stormdancer, her adventures begin.

So. This book. I'm not really a fan. While I loved the whole 'steampunk pirates' premise, I found myself deeply unimpressed by this story. This is not going to be a happy review, I'm afraid.

My first big issue is with the writing. Something about it rubbed me the wrong way. Initially, I thought it was the constant use of passive voice. It can be quite grating. Then, I realised. Saxon's voice is very young. There were things that needed further refining (i.e. the characters would find something out, and instead of brushing over the regurgitation of information to other characters, the readers would have to read it again), and I think the author's tone itself is very much better suited for a younger audience.

In regards to plot, I found that everything was quite rushed. Because of it, there was a severe lack of development in most elements of the story.

The characters. Eh. There wasn't a whole lot of development in any of them. This includes Cat/Catherine. She frustrated me to no end. Beyond the whole 'I'm-just-as-capable-as-a-boy' thing (more on that later), we don't get a good understanding on who she is as a person. I loathed Fox. Could not stand him. I'm alllllll for a brooding love interest, if done properly. He wasn't done properly. We get a very minor glimpse into why he is the way he is, but I'd still throw his sexist ass to the curb. Sorry, is that inappropriate?

The relationships jumped. Like, one second everyone was just meeting Cat, and the next? It was all la-di-da family times. While it's clear that the crew developed a bond quickly, it's unfortunate because us, as readers, don't get to witness it. It's at this point (rather than the reiterating of info) that Saxon glosses over things. Because of this, it makes the story quite stunted, and abrupt.

Likewise, the (unsurprising) blossoming romance between Cat and Fox was very stilted. There was little chemistry between the two (in my opinion), and like with the crew, the relationship jumped. I know there's the old wives tale that if a boy makes fun of you, he likes you. Spoiler alert: just because people say boys should do that, doesn't mean boys should do it. Don't send that sort of message to readers.

I found the dialogue really stiff. Especially so in Cat's case. I understand that the world of Anglya has a little bit of a historical basis, but that really needed working on.

Speaking of which, the world. While the author got the bare basics, very little specifics were explained. I'm talking why the rich hate the poor so much, what the storms are, etc. Hopefully, these would be elaborated on in the coming sequels.

On a more specific level, some things just didn't make sense. Why does the crew go ahead with Cat's plan when they barely know her? Ugh. *Frustration*

I have one more thing. Then, I'm done. Pinky promise. The messages the author pushes. No, wait. I don't have a real issue with what she pushes, it's how she pushes it. One being that Cat was a strong heroine. On literally every other page, Cat says something along the lines of 'I'm just as capable as a boy.' Especially, when she's around Fox. As a feminist, I already agree with that sentiment. Girls are as capable as boys! You just don't need to shove it down my throat at every opportunity. Instead of saying it, Saxon could have just as easily shown it. Through action. Readers are intelligent. They don't need to be told things over and over again - we'll pick up on it just fine by ourselves.

Also the whole 'must-hate-the-government' thing. I'd be cool with it, if I knew more about the world. While things (especially towards the end) become very graphic and disgusting, I would've liked a reason to hate the government at the beginning. For reasons other than Cat hating she has to be married to an idiot.

Wow. Ok. Review over. I really wasn't a fan of this book. Unsurprisingly, one star.

Rating: * (1 star)

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Publication Date: June 5th 2014

Goodreads | Lucy Saxon's Twitter | Lucy Saxon's Website

Want to buy this book? You can get it here:

Book Depository | Fishpond | Bookworld | Amazon

Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with this e-ARC

This review will also be appearing on BookNerdReviews

April Reads | 2013

Books Read:

Persuasion / Jane Austen | Goodreads | Review

Anna & the French Kiss / Stephanie Perkins | Goodreads

Lola & the Boy Next Door / Stephanie Perkins | Goodreads

Bridget Jones's Diary / Helen Fielding | Goodreads | Review to come

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason / Helen Fielding | Goodreads | Review to Come

Clockwork Princess / Cassandra Clare | Goodreads | Review 

March Reads | 2013

Books:

Fall to Pieces | Vahini Naidoo | Goodreads

Sister Assassin/Mind Games | Kiersten White | Goodreads

Unravelling | Elizabeth Norris | Goodreads

Scarlet | Marissa Meyer | Goodreads

Throne of Glass | Sarah J. Maas | Goodreads

The Madness Underneath | Maureen Johnson | Goodreads

The Raven Boys | Maggie Stiefvater | Goodreads

Altered | Jennifer Rush | Goodreads

Sever | Lauren de Stefano | Goodreads

February Reads | 2013

(not all the books I read are pictured as some were from the library or weren't at home when I took the picture. also sorry about the bad picture quality. again, i was at home, and my camera is at uni)

Pride & Prejudice | Jane Austen | Goodreads

Love & Friendship & Other Writings | Jane Austen | Goodreads

Unravel Me | Tahereh Mafi | Goodreads

Secrets & Sapphires | Leila Rasheed | Goodreads

Dearly Departed | Lia Habel | Goodreads

Etiquette & Espionage | Gail Carriger | Goodreads

January Reads | 2013

YouTube Video here

North and South | Elizabeth Gaskell | Goodreads

The Picture of Dorian Gray | Oscar Wilde | Goodreads

The Hobbit | J.R.R. Tolkien | Goodreads

Circle of Silence | Carol M. Tanzman | Goodreads

Just One Day | Gayle Forman | Goodreads

Generation Dead | Daniel Waters | Goodreads

The Darkest Minds | Alexandra Bracken | Goodreads

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight | Jennifer E. Smith | Goodreads

Stormdancer | Jay Kristoff | Goodreads

The Replacement | Brenna Yovanoff | Goodreads

Excitement.

You know when you're really excited about something? Like, so excited that you just keep repeatedly going back to it to make sure it's real? Yea? Well, that's been my life these past few days. Now, I realise not all of you readers watch my videos (whether that be on my own channel, or on the collab), so I feel like I need to update you on something majorly awesome that happened this past week. I got a reviewer's position on this site here. (clickity click click, click me!).

I honestly never thought I'd get it, and I was (read: still am) completely surprised. I didn't tell anyone that I even applied for the position. I was too nervous, and the thought of telling people I applied, and then the disappointment that would protrude their faces when I didn't get it wasn't something I could deal with (you should probably know that I applied during a busy time of the school year, so my writing = probably not the best). I didn't even tell my mum, I was that nervous. I generally tell my mum everything, especially things about books, publishing, writing, and education (and those sorts of things) because that's just our thing. So the fact that I didn't tell her about it was a pretty big deal.

So anyway, I applied. We emailed back and forth a few times, and then there was dead silence for a couple of months. That made me nervous. I think that'd make anyone nervous. Of course, I started doing what any internet-teenager does; I creeped, and bit my nails nervously. I eventually sort of pushed it to the back of my mind, because exams and assessment came up, so I really needed to focus on that (read: my mum would kill me if I failed anything). Once exams were done, I just looked on the twitter every once and a while, etc. etc.

Then earlier this week, on Thursday morning, I got a wonderful surprise. I seriously couldn't contain myself. I'm one of those people, who, when excited grins like a psychopath. The jumping and clapping hands, comes a little later. They offered me a position.

Now, if you remember lovely reader, I hadn't told my mum about the position yet. The hard part had come. I had to tell her. I feel like I should tell you up front, that my mum doesn't like surprises, and generally when I bring something up that I never told her about, she gets annoyed and glares and scowls, and does what every mother does. So, what do I do? I walk into her room, try and calm myself and say to her, "So, a couple months back, I sorta applied for a book reviewing position, and I sorta just got an email offering me the position" (in the real life version, of course, their was a lot more stammering, and it wasn't nearly quite so coherent).

My mum, a woman who hates surprises, is indeed full of surprises herself. She didn't yell, or give me a lecture, or do something any parent who was concerned for their child would do. She smiled and said, "Really? Honey, that's so great."
And she hugged me. She read everything over, and now she's just as excited as me. She spent the whole day telling fellow teachers.

It's insane. So, I'm here now telling you, partly because I don't really want to look at my geography, and biology, and modern history, and maths homework, and partly because I'm anxiously refreshing my email every ten seconds, waiting for a response from Christina (who is one of the YA reviewers). The creeping is beginning again. It's a little concerning.

Anywho, I thought you'd like to know, because you guys are the best. I should go now and do my homework properly. If any of you know anything about rates of change, call me up.

READING: Angel Arias, and Artemis Fowl
WORDS: 6,173
QUOTE: "Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul - and sings the tunes without the words - and never stops at all" - Emily Dickinson

Elixir by Hilary Duff.

See, originally, I wasn't going to do a review about Elixir, but then Cass from Words On Paper said that she couldn't wait, which then, half-heartily provoked me into doing a review (it's not your fault, Cass!). So here I am, writing a review on Elixir. Just before I begin this review, did I mention that I am nearly halfway through my book for NaNoWriMo? Yes, I wrote over 3,000 words today to catch up. But now, onto the review!

So, I first heard that Hilary Duff was going to release a book perhaps one or two months ago? I'm not too sure, but once I had heard it, my curiosity got the better of me. Within a matter of the week that it was released, I had put it on hold at the library. Now, I'd watched interviews on the book that Duff had taken and I was completely frazzled by the storyline. It just, honestly, didn't make any sense at all to me, so sorry right now if this summary bemuses you, but I tried my best. SCOUT'S HONOUR!

So the story is told from the perspective of Clea Raymond. She is the daughter of a politician and a renowned surgeon (naturally). Her father disappeared about six months ago (I think, I'm working on this through memory, so you're going to have to forgive me if a small detail or two isn't right) on a mission in South America and Clea is just trying to cope. She also dreams of being a photojournalist someday, and when one dude keeps popping up in her photos, it freaks her out. Because not only is this dude in her photos doing unnatural things (like *SPOILER* being captured on film in the air), but he also seems vaguely familiar to Clea. As part of an assignment, Clea is flown over to Brazil (at least, I'm pretty sure that's where it was), to where he father was last seen. And, oh, the plot thickens when....

Sorry, I can't reveal that next part without saying any spoilers, so no soup for you! *Anybody get the reference?* I was kind of iffy about whether or not this would be a good book, because, naturally, I get suspicious when actors try their hand at writing, but I'll admit that this was an ok book. It wasn't too 'WOW! THAT'S AMAZING', but it also wasn't too 'BOO! NEVER READ THAT EVER' *echoes ensue*. It was just ok. Very compelling read, though. The writing was actually surprisingly really good (mind you, she did have a ghost writer with her, so kudos to Elise Allen), and I found some of the characters quite lovable (like Clea's best friend, Rayna, whom I absolutely adored), whilst I found other characters just ok.

Even after finishing this book, and having moved on to about three other books, I'm still not entirely clear of what genre this is, nor what the basic storyline is. I think that if it were to be labelled into any genre at all, it would classically have to be romance. That's the one thing I suggest to Ms Duff, perhaps get the storyline cleared up a bit. I've heard she thinking about writing a sequel to this book. If that is the case, I will happily read it as leisure and entertainment (again, like Spells, not something I would get obsessed with, like perhaps Harry Potter).

Everything about this book is ok. It certainly isn't memorable (in my opinion, anyway), but it still is a nice, light read if you are in between books. Overall, I find it a very good, intriguing book for a first time writer such as Ms Duff.

BOOK CURRENTLY READING: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl.

p.s. remember this is just my personal opinion. Everybody has a different taste, so if you're into that sort of thing, I suggest you read it to form your own opinion.  :)

Spells by Aprilynne Pike.

Hello everybody!

I felt it was high time that I wrote another review and so I chose to do it on the Wings sequel, Spells. I'll admit that my memory wasn't very fresh of what had happened in Wings, due to the fact that I had read it over a year ago, but I was still curious. I found Wings silently lovely, and it was a good light read. Not something that I'd get attached to (like Harry Potter, or The Mortal Instruments, or anything like that), but a nice light read to enjoy on a Summer's day. I was hoping that Spells would do the same.

This, unfortunately is not the case. Frankly, I found it really quite boring when Laurel (whom I have serious issues with, and will probably rant about later) was in Avalon for the Summer. I understand that the premise was probably needed so that the reader's could better understand what would happen later in the story, but I feel that Ms Pike dragged it out for a bit too long. Then, when it finally did start getting interesting (just after the middle of the book), I began to get really frustrated with the characters, and in particular, the main female protagonist, Laurel.

I felt Laurel was ok in Wings, and she didn't really concern me as the sort of girl who would annoy me, but in Spells all that unraveled. Laurel just became far too Bella-esqe for my taste, and you probably don't know this, but I have an aversion to anything Twilight because I find it absolutely horrible. Laurel toying with both of the boy's feelings, and the whole 'two-worlds' drama was far too copycat in my opinion.

The writing wasn't the best either. I just didn't enjoy it and it frustrated me to no end. The overall summary to Spells is that it is a version of Twilight, but with faeries. I'm not expecting myself to read the next book in the series, coming out next year, Illusions at all.

Continue being lovely!

&dftba. xox

BOOK CURRENTLY READING: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

p.s how's nanowrimo going if you are participating?

Juliet by Anne Fortier.

So another new review. I'm taking time out of my homework scheduale to write this, so hopefully it'll be decent.

Juliet is about Julie Jacobs, who, after her Aunt Rose dies, finds out she is not actually Julie Jacobs. She is actually Giulietta Tolomei and she is descended from the Juliet who inspired the most well known play of all time, Romeo and Juliet. She also is given a letter, telling her that her mother left her something in Siena (which is in Italy) and that she advises to go find it. This is where the story begins. Julie (or Giulietta, I suppose I should say) goes to Italy and meets Alessandro Santini and Eva Maria Salembeni. They speak of how Julie/Giullietta is a descendant of the real Juliet Capulet and how the curse - 'a plague on both your houses' - is still at work.

This novel is written in first person AND third person. It sounds a little tricky, but its actually not that hard to get your head around. Despite the fact that ever since ever, I've been told in English class that you shouldn't change the person, or tense it is set in. She does both.

Now, to understand the background story, Fortier writes in both present and past tense. The past being the original story of Romeo & Juliet, and the present is the storyline of Julie Jacobs/Giullietta Tolomei. It is an interesting read, and I was enthralled with it all the way through. It was exceptionally written, and Anne Fortier came across a extremely good plot line. She delved into the historic side of it really well, showing off impressive research.

I found the characters somewhat predictable at some points, but I still really enjoyed learning about them and watching them develop. My only downside to this book was that occasionally, I would get annoyed that the next chapter was a flashback. It's like I was really getting into the present situation, and then we had to do a chapter of going back to 1340 (when Julie/Giullietta's ancestor had the whole Romeo & Juliet scenario). I then got peeved when, once I was so entirely getting into that form of writing and really wondering what was going to happen next, I was left with the present century. It was a similar patten for me throughout, and it got on my nerves occasionally. I suppose you could think of it as a sort of cliffhanger, in some aspects. It doesn't mean that I liked it though.

Overall, I did enjoy the story. It was unique and different to what I have seen when it comes to Romeo & Juliet inspired novels. You not only enjoy the story, but you actually learn quite a bit of historical facts, and at the beginning of each chapter, there is a Romeo and Juliet quote.

If you're into love stories that have a bit of a twist, I suggest this one for you.
Until next time lovelies,
&dftba. xox

Clockwork Angel Review.

Hello all!

I thought to myself just then, 'I think it's about time I wrote another review', so TADA!
The following review is Clockwork Angel, which was written by Cassandra Clare.

The novel, Clockwork Angel is a prequel to The Mortal Instruments Series (also written by Ms Clare). It is based in Victorian England, in the year 1877. A young girl named Tessa Gray arrives in Southampton after receiving a mysterious ticket from her brother in New York. Her aunt has just passed away. So she arrives in England, awaiting her brother, when the mysterious Dark Sisters come and pick her up. Her brother is nowhere to be found. This is when Tessa is introduced into the Downworld. Filled with warlocks, vampires and other mythological creatures, Tessa is pushed into a world she has never known. She seeks refuge from Shadowhunters, and the story really evolves from there (sorry, I just don't want to give away too much for those of you who don't like spoilers).

One thing that I immediately picked up on, and liked, was the fact that the author managed to make it that you didn't have to have read The Mortal Instruments Series beforehand. I liked this as it does make it a separate novel from the other series, despite the fact that they are interconnected through the prequel thing.

I immediately liked the characters. Somehow, Ms Clare manages to create the most brilliant characters. I don't know how, and I don't know why, but she does it amazingly. There's the whole 'Team Will', 'Team Jem' thing going on, and instead of finding it annoying (like I did with that of the Twilight series), it actually just confuses me more. Jem and Will are both extremely well written characters and I personally had a hard time picking out who I prefered. It came down to humour though, and I had to give it to Will. And probably his charm. *throws arms in air* I don't know! I'll have to say this, though. Tessa and I? We'd get along like a candle on fire. I absolutely adore her sense of humour and her love of books. I feel that I can relate to her on so many different levels, from boy problems to her taste in novels, it's incredible.

Cassandra Clare wrote really REALLY well and had to leave us on a cliffhanger. I can not wait for Clockwork Prince to come out next year! It will be one of the highlights!

There's also been some debates going around about which is the better series: The Infernal Devices series, or The Mortal Instruments series. My thoughts? Infernal Devices. This is merely because I am a quixotic dreamer, who completely wishes that she lived in the 19th century.

Have a fun time reading loverlies!
&dftba. xox

BOOK CURRENTLY READING: Beatle Meets Destiny by Gabrielle Williams.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins.

First review: Mockingjay.

Now, I realise that everybody has probably been reviewing Mockingjay recently, what with it's release last month (day before my birthday *gasp*), but, I've had time to delve into thoughtfulness and profoundness and decided that it's my best shot at reviewing first. SO LET'S GET STARTED!

Mockingjay, the final addition to the Hunger Games trilogy, written by Suzanne Collins starts exactly where Catching Fire (Hunger Grames #2) left us. Katniss Everdeen, the protagonist, has just discovered that her beloved District 12 has been destroyed and her brand new home is the allegedly extinct, District 13.

Can I just say, straight up, that I was not disappointed.Throughout the whole of this novel, I was feeling what Katniss was feeling. Suzanne Collins managed to create a mental masterpiece of what could become a future dystopian society in North America. It's an exceptionally masterful idea that has been turned into so much more for a lot of people. The book was well-written and you could somewhat ascertain why the protagonist (Katniss) did the things that she did. Ms Collins brought the characters to life in the way she described them and conjured up a really good mental image. She made sure we didn't like certain characters or liked others, despite what one might usually have done.

But see, she knows me too well, Ms Collins does. You see, I'm one of those "strange" people (as one might call me), who enjoys bittersweet endings. I like endings that are 'happily ever after', but there is a reason or consequence as to why. Whether that be because one of the main characters died to save a loved one or there is a huge battle ending in dozens of deaths, I'm the sort of girl who enjoys these endings. I think it's because it just seems a lot more real to me, than the something of a cliche happy ending where nobody dies, because, lets be honest here, there's not a chance in the world of someone having a cliche happily ever after.

**SPOILERS**
You had to expect the spoilers, I'm sorry, but to get my point across I have to include them - so SORRY. The fact that a large majority of characters that you like die just completely gets my point across about bittersweet happily ever afters.  In Mockingjay, a war is at large. You can't expect that no one will die, it would just be too unrealistic. If you want to create a real world then you need to add suffering and pain, not just happiness and contentness.

I'll admit I was probably very close to balling my eyes out when Finnick and Prim died. They were just some lovely characters. Most likely two of my favourites. I think, though, that the author should've maybe created a higher act of shame or sorrow from Katniss. I mean, I know people react to grief in different ways, but we are in Katniss's head, you'd think she would think about them a tad bit more.

I honestly can't think of anything more about this book. So in a summary of about a sentence: Mockingjay is an amazingly genius ending to the Hunger Games series and it is thoroughly enjoyable, despite some small character flaws that maybe only I think (sorry to you, if that tis the case).

Till next time  :)