Kingdom of Sleep by E.K. Johnston

I don't think I quite enjoyed this book as much as its prequel, A Thousand Nights, but it was still an intriguing, beautiful story!

Kingdom of Sleep, or Spindle, depending on where you live, follows Yashaa, Arwa, Tariq and Saoud, on a quest to return to their crumbling home of Karuf and save the Princess, Zahrah. At her fifth birthday party, she was cursed by a demon who intended to possess her once she had learned everything she needed to be a ruler, forcing her kingdom into ruin and resulting in the banning of spindles (this is where the Sleeping Beauty references come in), as the demon pronounced that once Zahrah learned to spin, she would be ready for inhabitation. Yashaa, Arwa and Tariq's families, who were spinners, were forced to leave their home at this point, but now the three of them along with Saoud are determined to break Zahrah's curse. 

A Thousand Nights was very much a slow building story, and whereas Kingdom of Sleep was also slow, there was still a lot more action in it. It was definitely more of a "journey story", focusing on the development of the characters and their relationships with each other rather than on the plot. I did struggle to get into this book at first, mostly because I wasn't expecting some of the differences between it and A Thousand Nights (for example, I assumed that the characters would all remain unnamed as they did in the previous book) but once I got into the book I really enjoyed it and began to connect with the characters a lot more. 

Although I thought the ending was a bit too rushed, the very last chapter really made the book for me. With A Thousand Nights, the thing that really stuck with me was how beautiful and poetic the writing was, and I'm so glad that Kingdom of Sleep still had such beautiful writing, even though it was written in quite a different style and voice. 

This definitely isn't a sequel to A Thousand Nights, but a companion novel - it's set in the same land, but quite a long time afterwards (hundreds of years, as far as I'm aware) and although key events are mentioned from the previous book, you could definitely read this as a standalone and have no trouble at all understanding what's happening. I'd also just like to mention something about the Sleeping Beauty comparisons - Kingdom of Sleep is marketed as being inspired by/a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, and I think this may have put some people off, but in my opinion, the two stories couldn't be more different - literally the main similarity is that in both stories, spindles are the triggers in the Princesses curses. Because of this, I would definitely not let the Sleeping Beauty inspirations embedded in this book put you off reading it, as like I say, they're barely there! 

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Have you read A Thousand Nights or Kingdom of Sleep/Spindle? What did you think?

love Becky @ 

The Diabolic by S. J. Kincaid

Nemesis is a Diabolic - a humanoid creature created to protect one individual, and destroy anything that threatens them. Nemesis is bonded to Sidonia, daughter of galactic Senator von Impyrian, whom the Emperor considers a threat and a heretic. When the Emperor summons Sidonia to the galactic court, Nemesis knows this could be a death sentence, and finds only one way to protect her - she must become Sidonia, and visit the court in her place.

Amongst the Grandiloquy, Nemesis discovers the true intentions of the Emperor, as well as of his heir Tyrus, said by all to be a madman. Whilst learning to navigate court intrigue, attempting to hide her true nature, and being away from Sidonia for the first time since their bond was created, Nemesis begins to discover the one thing that she believed Diabolics didn't have - her humanity. 

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When I first started The Diabolic, I described it to my husband as being "like Ancient Rome but in space". I'm sticking by this description, as simple as it is. This was a very odd mash-up of worlds - the political and court intrigue in the style of the Roman Empire, with Roman titles and Latin-esque names, but in a futuristic world where Earth has become unsustainable, those living planet-side are viewed as commoners, Senators live on their own huge ships and rule over small sections of the galaxy, and the Emperor's court is made up of numerous spaceships all docked together. Although I've read many Roman/Grecian style novels, I've never read any Sci-Fi ones, and I did really enjoy this aspect of The Diabolic and the world-building in it. 

In terms of characters, I loved Nemesis. She went through so much character development, and although "unhuman creature finding their humanity" may sound like a bit of a trope or a stereotype, it really wasn't in this book! Nemesis's thought processes and inner conflicts with herself, her feelings and her behaviour played out really well. Because of this, despite her supposedly being unhuman and without emotion (which definitely wasn't true), she was actually a really easy character to relate to. I loved how protective she was over Sidonia, and how Donia always saw her as an equal and saw her humanity, even if everyone else in the Impyrian household and in the Emperor's court believed her and other Diabolics to be nothing more than servants without feelings. 

There is a romance in this book, but I didn't think it was a bad one. It wasn't rushed into and the way that it was built up, it just seemed to make sense, especially with the events going on around the characters, and with the characters own developments and storylines.

A lot of reviews that I've read for this book seemed to think that it was too violent. Perhaps it's my dark British mindset and sense of humour, but I just didn't agree with this. Yes, it was violent, it was bloody, and it was packed full of nasty plots and backstabbing, but I just didn't think it was too much? I've definitely read more violent books - the ASOIAF series is darker and bloodier than this book by far. Obviously this is just my personal opinion, as it's others that it's too violent, but I just wanted to say don't let the violence put you off! Chances are you'll be like me and not see it as being too far. 

Although I was happy with how the book ended and I wasn't expecting the very final plot twist, I didn't like what happened to lead to the conclusion, if that makes sense. I won't say anything else about this as it's a big spoiler! 

Overall, I enjoyed The Diabolic; it would have been almost perfect if the last few chapters had been slightly different and if they'd maybe been a bit less rushed. I think that this book could have easily had another hundred pages or so and benefited from it, and I definitely would have liked to know some more about certain characters, as well as the world it's set in in general.

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love,

The Diverse Books Tag

Sticking with our theme of looking into diverse books, we thought that it was about time that we had a go at the diverse books tag, by Read Diverse Books. This tag is a great way to discover new diverse books, as it works sort of like a scavenger hunt - you basically have to find a book that fits into each category! 

We tag anyone reading who wants to have a go at this tag!  

FIND A BOOK STARRING A LESBIAN CHARACTER 

Goodreads | Book Depository

Released in May 2017, this is the story of two WoC (I'm unsure of their ethnicity which is why I haven't mentioned it, if you know, please let us know in the comments) who fall in love. Sana and Jamie, two sixteen-year old girls with their fair share of problems - Sana is worried her father may be having an affair and she is surrounded by friends who constantly leave her out. Jamie has an established group of friends but they don't accept Sana into them and a boy named Caleb is definitely making more than friendly advances towards her. Battling with their own problems, they find solace in each other and realise that loving a girl is the easy part.

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FIND A BOOK WITH A MUSLIM PROTAGONIST

Goodreads | Book Depository 

Yes, you've read that correctly. A Muslim superhero in a comic/graphic novel who goes by the name of Kamala Khan. Kamala, seemingly just a normal girl from Jersey City suddenly develops extraordinary gifts but is she ready for the legacy that she is about to create? However, developing superhuman powers doesn't come without discovering a secret behind them. Volume 1 in an ongoing series, Ms. Marvel is a definite must-read.

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FIND A BOOK SET IN LATIN AMERICA

Goodreads | Book Depository

A fantasy story full of Latinx culture, by an author originally from Ecuador! Not only is the main character Alex a WoC, she is also a bisexual character, and the majority of characters in this book are PoC as we discover Latinx culture. Alex is what is known as a bruja, the most powerful witch in a generation but it is power she doesn't want. At her Deathday celebration, she performs a spell to rid herself of her powers but instead, she vanishes into thin air with nothing but the company of Nova, a brujo boy. This begins their journey to Los Lagos, an in-between land just as strange as Wonderland.

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FIND A BOOK ABOUT A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY

Goodreads | Book Depository

Six of Crows is a is a young-adult fantasy duology following a gang of six misfits about to complete a series of impossible heists in the criminal town of Ketterdam. Their leader, Kaz Brekker, is a criminal prodigy with a no-price-is-too-high attitude - he is smart, clever and ruthless and he just happens to have a disability - Kaz walks with a cane due to an accident damaging his leg a few years back. Occasionally crippled with pain and walking with a limp, it is just another part of him and he doesn't let it hinder him in any way. This series is also diverse with a bunch of PoC characters who also show us their individual cultures and gay and bisexual characters. Must read duology!

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FIND A SCIENCE-FICTION OR FANTASY BOOK WITH A POC PROTAGONIST

Goodreads | Book Depository

A reimagining of One Thousand and One Nights with a fantasy twist. E.K. Johnston tells the story of Lo-Melkhiin, a ruler who has killed over three-hundred girls before coming across our protagonist. When he takes her to his court instead of her sister, she vows she will not be the next to die. The court is a creepy and atmospheric place and each night, she tells him a story and every morning she wakes up is another day she has survived. Amongst the palace walls, she gradually discovers that Lo-Melkhiin may not have always been a cruel man. All the female characters are unnamed throughout it, including the MC showing us the magnitude of Lo-Melkhiin's reign. 
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FIND A BOOK SET IN (OR ABOUT) ANY COUNTRY IN AFRICA

Goodreads | Book Depository

A beautiful story that not only gives voice to Nigerian culture and folk tales but also to its LGBTQ community. Written by an own voices author, the wonderful Chinelo Okparanta, this tells the story of Ijeoma, only eleven during the outbreak of civil war in the young republic of Nigera as she is sent to safety and meets a girl who she falls in love with. However, in a country where this is a sin, the two must keep it secret and remain star-crossed lovers. It is the story of two women, their struggles and their triumphs set against a dangerous backdrop. 
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FIND A BOOK WRITTEN BY AN INDIGENOUS OR NATIVE AUTHOR

Goodreads | Book Depository

A novel following numerous characters who are trying to find the balance between their Native American traditions and the modern world. Written by a Cherokee author, Thomas King erases common stereotypes about Native Americans in his works. This story tells the story of Alberta, a university professor who would happily trade her boyfriends for a baby but no husband, Lionel, a forty year old television-salesman and finally Eli, whose log cabin home stands in the way of a profitable dam project. These three come together at the Blackfoot reservation for the Sun Dance and what follows will leave the small town of Blossom forever changed.
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FIND A BOOK SET IN SOUTH ASIA (AFGHANISTAN, INDIA, PAKISTAN, SRI LANKA ETC.)

Goodreads | Book Depository

When Naila falls in love with Saif, despite her parents strict rules that they would choose her husband, they travel to Pakistan so that Naila can get in touch with her roots and rediscover her culture. However, upon arriving in the country, Naila discovers that her parents have found her a husband in Pakistan and expect her to marry him during their stay. This is a book that isn't afraid to delve into Pakistani culture, and showcase the forced marriages that so many girls are involved in to this day. 
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FIND A BOOK WITH A BIRACIAL PROTAGONIST

Goodreads | Book Depository

Jess is a bisexual Chinese-Vietnamese girl living in a world where having superpowers is just the norm, except for her... she is completely normal despite having two famous superheroes as parents. She's still struggling with everyday issues, such as trying to find an internship that isn't for a super villain and doesn't require her to be more than human. When she does find one, she finds out she'll be working alongside her longtime crush, Abby who may just have a secret of her own. Not only does this book have a diverse cast of lesbian and bisexual characters but there's Bells, Jess' friend who is trans. This book needs to be talked about a lot more. Superheroes and diversity is the best combo.

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FIND A BOOK STARRING A TRANSGENDER CHARACTER OR ABOUT TRANSGENDER ISSUES

Goodreads | Book Depository | Our Review

This book follows the story of Amanda, a transgender woman as she moves across country to live with her father. Starting at a new school requires her to fit in but she soon finds a diverse group of friends and even love with a student called Grant. This book not only deals with transgender issues - we hear from Amanda from a young age when she realised she was born in the wrong body, all the way up to her starting her transition - it is also written by a transgender author. It is a very important YA novel and Amanda has a very strong and memorable voice. 
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So that is our list. We hope we have chosen books appropriate to its topic and if you would like to see any posts featuring more, let us know!
Love,

Mini Review: The Terracotta Bride by Zen Cho

Goodreads 

"She had not realised before that she hated men. But she did, and this was one of the reasons why: this incessant demand for sympathy and interest from every woman in the vicinity. Jungsheng did not like Siew Tsin, he did not even know her, and yet he was extending his appeal to her. It was a sticky thing, his need, with tentacles that would strangle her if they could."

Two things entered my mind when I found out about this story from the wonderful Read Diverse Books - first was coming to the realisation that this was my first experience with a novelette and second, it was also the first time I had read a book centred on Chinese mythology. I can safely say that I give you all permission to recommend me all the novelettes and Chinese mythology you can think of because I loved this story. It is short (coming in at around 11,000 words) and although you know this at the beginning, it is still bittersweet when it ends so soon.

The Terracotta Bride follows the story of Siew Tsin, one of many residents in the tenth court of hell after dying at a young age. She was married off to the richest man in hell, despite her best wishes, but realises that in a place based upon wealth, she could be in a much worse situation. However, everything changes when one day, her husband brings home a new bride but this isn't any ordinary woman. Yonghua is an artificial woman constructed entirely from terracotta. What follows is the budding relationship between Siew Tsin and Yonghua and their husband's first wife, Ling'en. The three women are far more intelligent than their husband expected and as they grow closer, the mystery and origins behind Yonghua's creation may show the secret to everlasting life or a very final death.

Despite it being so short, these three women were wonderfully developed both as individuals and as a group. I loved Siew Tsin and her gentle demeanour despite literally being in hell, Yonghua and her curious nature and Ling'en and her strong will. The three become a force to be reckoned with against their husband. A stand-out scene for me was Yonghua telling Siew Tsin to run and then entered into a battle with terracotta assassins single-handedly. I'm so here for female relationships when they look out for each other - even if the rest of the story hadn't of been my cup of tea, these women brought it to life.

The setting and the atmosphere Zen Cho created with magical, bringing a whole new depth and outlook to hell. This is a place where money can buy you anything and luxury is easily achieved and because of this, the very world became rich in more ways than one. The world-building was excellent in such a short amount of time, something that full-length novels sometimes struggle to achieve. The ending was spell-binding, incorporating the myth of the red string of fate which is all I will say without giving away spoilers. Upon finishing, I alternated between wanting more but being satisfied at how it ended. I also immediately went and ordered Zen Cho's other novel, Sorcerer to the Crown and I'll be reviewing that on the blog in the new year. 

Love,

If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo

Every now and then you come across a book that within mere chapters, makes you think this is so important. Those were my thoughts when reading If I Was Your Girl by the wonderful Meredith Russo. We follow the story of Amanda, a transgender girl who goes to live with her father. She falls in love, makes new friends and learns to love the body she should have been born with. The novel switches between present day and flashbacks all the way through Amanda's childhood to her attempted suicide and finally, her transition. This is a YA contemporary with all our much-loved themes but having it told by a transgender woman makes the story so much more important.

Likes

+ Amanda. A transgender main character in a YA novel? Yep. Not only that, it's also written by a transgender author. This is so important for young readers, regardless of the story itself. For Amanda to lead the life that many YA characters live - to fall in love, have family issues, meeting a new group of friends but also have such a traumatic past. She is brave character and incredibly strong. She tells us her story from present day but also switches between years and months ago, from a very young age when she knew that she should have been born a girl. There's this amazing parallel scene in the book - in one chapter, Amanda tells us of the time she took pills and tried to end her life but then we also experience the moment she took pills that began her transition and the two scenes - one heartbreakingly sad and the other heartbreakingly joyous really stood out for me. Amanda is definitely one of my top favourite female characters after reading this book. 
+ Familial relationships! Amanda has a very strong bond with her mother, despite the fact that she is living with her father during the events of this novel. Her mother is the one who helped her after her suicide attempt and accepted that she is transgender. Her father, however, is less accepting at first and so the two go on a journey of acceptance. I like that there were strong family ties in this novel but still maintained complications. It's realistic and it showed not only Amanda's journey through transition, but also her parents. The two ultimately care deeply for their daughter. 
+ Female friendships!! I recently posted a blog post about my favourite fictional female friendships and I wish I had read this book before I compiled it because Amanda's friendship with Chloe, Anna and Layla was really lovely. They accept her from the very beginning and they all maintained such a healthy relationship, especially Anna who is very religious and has a very religious family. I mean, Chloe pulled a loaded gun on Parker to save Amanda. Friendship goals.

50/50

+ The romance between Amanda and Grant. Okay, so I went from loving these two, loving their healthy relationship (he asked if he could kiss her rather than just kiss her without consent when she was babbling on and this is something that is important to me), he says that he would accept her no matter what and even refuses to read a letter she writes to him explaining everything etc etc butwhen he discovers Amanda was transgender, he wandered off and was nowhere to be seen until the end of the book even asking the question, 'does that make me gay?' However, he agrees to hear Amanda's story from the beginning but this is how the book ends!! Does he accept her? Nobody knows. I'm all for books that don't have everything tied up in a little bow at the end because that's real life but this didn't sit well with me. Their entire relationship would have changed in my eyes if he still didn't end up accepting her, especially as he 'loved her no matter what.' 

Dislikes

+ Character treatment. So a character in this book, Bee, is bisexual, something she openly admits. She is also in a secret relationship with Chloe, another of Amanda's friends. Bee is the first person Amanda trusts enough to tell her she is transgender as the two form a quick friendship and play a game in which they tell each other secrets about each other. What seems like a strong bond quickly turns sour when Bee attempts to kiss Amanda, gets kindly rejected and then proceeds to stand on stage and reveal secrets about pupils, including outing Amanda and Chloe. It was awful and I feel as though it came from nowhere? I feel like Bee's character was ruined here and for no reason and also nothing comes of it after. She was such an interesting character, she was a good friend to Amanda, openly bisexual and also a rape victim and I feel like outing everybody was very OOC for her. 

+ Unnecessary attempted rape scene (trigger warning for this!) At the end of the novel, after the events of Homecoming, Amanda is apprehended by Parker, a friend of Grant who she turned down at the start of the novel. He offers her a ride home but when he is rejected, he goes on to verbally abuse her, punch her and attempt to rape her when only a few chapters ago, he was apologising for any hard feelings between them. Luckily Amanda is helped by her friends but once again like the Bee situation, nothing comes of it and Parker isn't mentioned again despite this horrific crime. I felt like it was unnecessary and it made me extremely uncomfortable.

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Overall, this book is important and no rating will change that. Having a YA contemporary novel that has a transgender main character is unfortunately very rare despite it being 2016 so every one we get is a must-read. Amanda was an amazing character, she was brave and strong but most of all, she was happy in her body and that was so beautiful to see considering she spent so long in the wrong one. This is another book that I would encourage to be compulsory reading in secondary schools, both for the cisgender and transgender communities.

Love,

Illumicrate November Unboxing

This month I received my first ever Illumicrate box and to make things better, it arrived on my birthday so it was a surprise gift. Illumicrate is a UK-based book subscription box that is sent out every three months - this makes it handy if you can't afford other subscription boxes every month. It features a newly release book and other bookish goodies and it's obvious the creators put a lot of thought and effort into it. So here's what I received in November's box - 

**SPOILERS BELOW**

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| A Coffee Cosy by Sparrow + Wolf |

This was designed exclusively for this month's box by the amazing Sparrow + Wolf (which incidentally is a name of one of my favourite songs.) This Cosy is perfect for putting on your travel mugs when you've got to go out in the wintery months. Unfortunately, I don't own a travel mug and I don't like coffee but I did put it on a normal mug so you could see the beautiful design. 

| 'AIDAN' Candle by Meraki Candles | 

I have been meaning to purchase a candle from this wonderful company for a while as the designs and scents look beautiful and it's also UK-based. The one included in this box was also another exclusive for Illumicrate and is based on a character from this month's book. It smells of bergamot, sandalwood and mercy (ooo) and my mother has already stolen it and lit it. 

| Evil Plans Notebook by House of Wonderland |

Okay, so if you know me, you know that the design of this notebook is everything I could have asked for and although I've got a house full of them, one can never have too many notebooks, especially for scribbling in your evil plans. This is another exclusive for Illumicrate! It has blank pages, the cover is shiny and it's good quality and it's a nice little size. 

| Striped Socks by Happy Socks |

As much as I love socks, I was cursed/blessed with very small feet so I was afraid they weren't going to fit but they did and they are so comfy! A straight forward design but with bold colours, these are perfect and made from cotton so they aren't too thick. Perfect addition to the box in this wintery weather.

| The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid |

This was the book we got in this month's box. A newly released sci-fi novel following the story of a Diabolic, a humanoid teenager with only one task: kill in order to protect the person you've been created for. This book has been on my radar for a while but not enough for me to purchase it. I'm a huge fan of science-fiction and I love ruthless, anti-heroic characters. The book also came with a signed book plate, letter and bookmark. 

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The box also included little added extras such as Wolf by Wolf stickers, an ARC snippet of The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr, a Christmas gift tag and some posters/postcards from Replica, Caraval, All the Bright Places, Holding Up the Universe and Unconventional.

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Love,

Diverse Reads

Our biggest goal whilst creating this blog was to encourage any viewers to read. No matter how long the book is or how short, what genre, what rating - it doesn't matter, any reading is important. Now we are nearing towards 10,000 views, we thought it was about time to dedicate a post to diversity. These are books that are written by or featuring POC and some also have LGBTQ characters. We think it is so important, especially in YA fiction, to feature diversity and it is the one thing we look for when reviewing a book. 

Goodreads | Book Depository 

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Genre: Historial Fiction, Adult Fiction
Release Date: June 7th, 2016

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Homegoing is the debut novel of African author Yaa Gyasi. A historical-fiction novel that follows the story of a family though generations starting with half-sisters, Esi and Effia, two women with very different destinies - Effia marries an English slave trader and Esi herself is sold into slavery. They never meet and yet the generations that came after them tell their stories. The book gives us a look at the colonialism and slavery that took place across Africa and America over the course of 250 years.

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Goodreads | Book Depository

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
Genre: Contemporary, Adult Fiction
Release Date: October 11th, 2016

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This is the story of Ruth Jefferson, a black nurse who is accused of the murder of a newborn baby after his father didn't want her to care for him. This father, Turk, who we also follow the story of, is a White Supremacist alongside his wife. Our third character is Kennedy, a white lawyer who handles the case. It is the story of racism and how it affects not just daily life but how it is 'ignored' in court. Ruth was singled out because of her skin colour and she wants that to be known. 

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Goodreads | Book Depository

Radio Silence by Alice Oseman
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ
Release Date: February 25th, 2016

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Told by Frances Janvier, a bisexual POC, we follow her story as a girl known as a study-machine focused only on getting high grades, being head girl and getting into university. We follow her during her school year and find out that she has a secret obsession - a Youtube podcast called Universe Citywhich tells the story of a glove-wearing detective living in a monster-infested university. Nobody knows who the creator is until Frances is contacted to design art for the show. What begins is her journey towards friendship, acceptance and realising she can be who she wants to be. 

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Goodreads | Book Depository

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Release Date: May 12th, 2015

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When Shahrzad's best friend is chosen to be Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan's new bride and doesn't return, Shazi immediately volunteers to be his next bride. Khalid is famed for marrying a new girl each night and having them killed the next morning, and Shazi is determined to stop this cycle, stay alive and get revenge for her lost friend. However, as Shazi spends the nights weaving stories to Khalid as a bargain for her life, she begins to discover that Khalid has dark secrets, and reasons for his actions. Inspired by A Thousand and One Nights.
Read our full review here.

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Goodreads | Book Depository

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult, LGBTQ
Release Date: February 21st, 2012

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A story about sexuality, friendship and family. We follow the lives of Ari and Dante, two POC who meet at the local swimming pool as they begin a friendship that changes everything. Despite being two very different people - Ari being angry at the world and with an older brother in prison and Dante, a boy who looks at the world differently - they bring out the truth in one another. 
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Goodreads | Book Depository

The Education of Margot Sanchez by Lilliam Rivera

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Release Date: February 21st, 2017

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After 'borrowing' her father's credit card without permission, Margot finds herself having to work in the grocery store owned by her family as punishment and to pay off her debts. Margot is desperate to maintain her fought-for reputation at her private school, and refuses to let her family get in the way of her attending the ultimate beach party. The Education of Margot Sanchez looks at class and cultural issues, family secrets, and the building of new relationships whilst trying to maintain old relationships, with friends who could never understand the situation that you're in. 

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Goodreads | Book Depository 

The Blazing Star by Imani Josie
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Release Date: December 6th, 2016

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Portia is used to being the overlooked sister, what with her twin Alex being a genius. However, when she finds an Egyptian scarab beetle, she finds herself (and her sister) transported to Ancient Egypt. What follows is a story of family relationships, and the two girls trying to find their way home whilst history literally comes alive around them and they discover the reasons that they are linked to the past that they've been transported to.

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Goodreads | Book Depository 

It's Not Like It's a Secret by Misa Sugiura
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ
Release Date: May 9th, 2017

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Sana is used to keeping secrets - from secrets as small as the irritation she feels when she's ignored by her friends, to her knowledge of her father's affair. Sana's own secret, though, is that she has a crush on her best friend. When Sana moves to California and meets Jamie, she knows that she has to admit that she has feelings for her. Unfortunately for Sana, she couldn't have anticipated what would happen once she stops keeping it a secret...

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Goodreads | Book Depository 

The Library of Fates by Aditi Khorana 

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Release Date: July 18th, 2017

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Princess Amrita has sacrificed herself, offering herself as a bride to Emperor Sikander in order to save her kingdom of Shalingar. However, she soon finds herself a fugitive, stranded with an oracle named Thala who had been one of Sikander's slaves. Amrita attempts to journey home to warn her people of the dangers coming to them, but Thala tries to convince her that she should search for the Library of All Things instead, where she can reverse their fates, ensuring that Sikander never entered their lives. Amrita must choose between changing her past, or taking the path through her unknown future.

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Goodreads | Book Depository

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas 

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Release Date: February 28th, 2017

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Starr's life balances between two worlds: her poor neighborhood, and her rich prep school. When Starr sees her oldest friend, Khalil, get shot dead by a police officer despite him being unarmed, the balance between Starr's worlds tips. When Khalil's death hits national news, everyone wants to know what really happened, and only Starr can answer their questions. For Starr to tell, though, could shatter her community and endanger her life. Based on the Black Lives Matter movement and the awfully similar real life events that have been taking place in our world.

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Love,