Becky's July Reads

So despite July being an incredibly busy month for me (what with moving house, spending almost a week in Scarborough, and shooting three weddings amongst other things) I somehow managed to read nineteen books! I'll keep each synopsis brief so that this doesn't win a world record for the longest blog post in the history of forever.

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

5/5 stars

Thanks to HarperVoyager for the ARC! This was one of my highly anticipated releases of 2016 so I was so happy to be able to get hold of an ARC of it. It's the continuation of Laia, Elias and Helene's stories in An Ember in the Ashes - definitely a must read if you enjoyed the first book. Without giving anything away, I'd say this book was definitely mostly about Helene's story, and that's something that I would never complain about.
Read our full review here.

My Favourite Manson Girl by Alison Umminger

4/5 stars

My Favourite Manson Girl follows Anna as she researches the Manson family during a stay with her sister in Los Angeles. Surprisingly, I enjoyed this book a lot more than I expected to. I'd recommend it for those looking for a light contemporary read but with a twist to it!
Read our full review here.

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

4/5 stars

I've put off reading Uprooted for a long time as I was scared of disliking it - luckily, I loved it. All I will say is, if you're looking for a slow building fantasy with perfect character development and with allusions to Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy, this is the book for you.

Frostblood by Elly Blake

3.5/5 stars

We received ARC's of Frostblood in the July Fairyloot box. Ruby is a fireblood living in a world controlled by frostblood's, taken in by the rebels to learn how to control and use her power for good. I enjoyed Frostblood, and it reminded me a lot of the Snow Like Ashes series. The story and characters were compelling, however I didn't find that anything about it specifically stuck in my mind - I'm looking forward to seeing if the sequel is different in this aspect!

The Summer That Melted Everything by Tiffany McDaniel

5/5 stars

We were incredibly privileged to receive an ARC of this book from the author. This is Tiffany McDaniel's debut, and we both loved it beyond words. It's the story of Fielding Bliss, and what happens when his Father invites the devil to come to town, and he accepts the invitation. It's a story of racism, homophobia and religious extremism. It is a must read.
Read our full review here.

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

5/5 stars

After reading Gone Girl last year, I've been meaning to read the rest of Gillian Flynn's books ever since. I'm so glad I finally got around to it over the past couple of months, and I can easily say that Sharp Objects is my favourite.

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

3/5 stars 

Although I didn't like Dark Places as much as Sharp Objects or Gone Girl, it was still an enjoyable (if that's the right word to use) read, and the mystery was perfect as always with Gillian Flynn's books.

The Crown and the Arrow by Renee Ahdieh

2/5 stars 

One of the short stories in The Wrath and the Dawn series, The Crown and the Arrow didn't quite do it for me. I didn't feel as though it added much to the story, although it did give a nice insight into how Jalal and Despina met. 

The Walled City by Ryan Graudin

4/5 stars 

This has been on my shelf for a while now, and I was pleasantly surprised by it. The Walled City tells the stories of Jin Ling, Mei and Dai - three teenagers trapped within the walled city, a dystopian-esque place based on a real neighbourhood that used to exist in Hong Kong. I've gone off dystopians recently but I really enjoyed the world and the characters of The Walled City, and thought that the multiple points of view managed to work together really well.

The Moth and the Flame by Renee Ahdieh

2/5 stars 

Another Wrath and the Dawn short story, and once again, I didn't feel as though it was necessary to the overall plot of the series.

Ivory and Bone by Julie Eshbaugh

2/5 stars

We received Ivory and Bone in the June Fairyloot box. I put off reading this as I wasn't sure whether I'd enjoy it or not, and as you can see, I was disappointed by it. I didn't feel as though the plot or the characters did anything for me - I didn't really care about what happened to them and felt very disconnected from the storyline.
Read our full review here.

The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon

2/5 stars 

The Bone Sparrow is the story of Subhi, a refugee born in an Australian detention centre. This book was beautifully written and very informative - I'd never heard of the Rohingya people and their plight until I read it - but I felt as though it was aimed at a much younger audience, and therefore, I couldn't get into it.

Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur

5/5 stars 

If you read only one book of poetry in your life, make sure it is this one.
Read our full review here.

Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman

5/5 stars 

I was a bit weary of reading Vengeance Road as I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy the Cowboy dialect used throughout, but I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It's a book about Kate and her quest for revenge when she finds her Father murdered, and what she discovers about him and her family along the way.

Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedwick

3/5 stars

Midwinterblood is almost like seven short stories put together into one full story - it's the story of two souls searching for each other across lifetimes when they are torn apart in each one. I enjoyed this book, but strangely felt as though it was aimed at a younger audience, despite it's almost scary undertones.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

3/5 stars

I think probably everyone know's what Shiver is about, as I'm very late to the party here. I didn't really like or dislike this book - it did remind me far too much of Twilight, and I do think I would have enjoyed it more had I read it ten years ago.

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

2/5 stars 

The popular opinion seemed to be that Linger was better than Shiver, but I found this book even stranger than the first. Despite that, I'm still probably going to read the sequel as I'm too invested by now.

The Foreshadowing by Marcus Sedgwick

3/5 stars

As with Midwinterblood, I enjoyed this book but felt as though the writing style was too simplistic for me. It's set during WWI and is about Sasha Fox, a girl who can see visions of the future, but only when that future involves death.

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

5/5 stars

Yeah, I re-read ACOMAF this month. So this is obviously 5 stars, as always, and no explanation is needed.

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What have you been reading throughout July? Let us know in the comments!

Becky's June Reads

So apparently I beat my monthly record in June and read twelve books! I absolutely loved the majority of my June reads. Here's a quick look at what I read:

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The Assassins Blade by Sarah J. Maas

5/5 stars

Although the Throne of Glass series is one of my favourites, I've always put off reading The Assassins Blade as I'm not the biggest fan of novellas. I'm so glad I decided to read it though - the five novellas in this book are all chronological, so play out more like a full novel, and it was so good to get more of an insight into the backstories of the characters (especially Sam!)

Unbecoming by Jenny Downham

4/5 stars

I wasn't expecting much from Unbecoming, but I ended up actually really enjoying it. Definitely a book I'd recommend!

Girl In Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow

4/5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley/Penguin Random House for the ARC of Girl In Pieces! This book comes out on the 6th September and I would highly recommend it. See Angharad's full review of it here.

And I Darken by Kiersten White

5/5 stars

And I Darken has been a highly anticipated book on my to be read list for so long, and I was so happy to receive an ARC of it. I absolutely loved this book and if I say too much I'll just end up fangirling everywhere. Recommended if you love history, badass warrior princesses, and political court intrigue!
My full review of And I Darken can be found here.

The Grownup by Gillian Flynn

3/5 stars

I really enjoyed this short story by Gillian Flynn - I'm not the biggest fan of crime/thrillers, but I've always loved her books. I definitely think that The Grownup could've been a full novel, which is why I dropped it's rating a bit!

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All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood

So I've not rated this yet as I'm still not 100% sure what to make of it. I did really like the book, however there are some controversial topics involved that I still need to get my head around. When we've worked it out though, we'll be reviewing it in full, so keep an eye out for that! 

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

2/5 stars

Yeah, I'm sorry. I didn't get the hype about this book at all. I've enjoyed books by Jojo Moyes in the past but Me Before You just seemed so bland.

Vicious by V. E. Schwab

4/5 stars

I think everyone's already read this book, but if you haven't, you should definitely go and read it now!

Lips Touch by Laini Taylor

4/5 stars

I absolutely adore Laini Taylor, and Lips Touch, her book of three short stories that are essentially about first kisses, was no exception. Everything this woman writes is just so magical!

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

4/5 stars

I was a bit weary going into this book as I found Between Shades of Gray a bit disappointing, but Out of the Easy was perfect - definitely my favourite book by Ruta Sepetys. It's set in 1950's New Orleans and follows Josie, a girl desperate to get 'out of the easy', as the title implies.

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

4/5 stars

So this is one of those books I've been meaning to pick up for ages, but avoided because I'm always a bit unsure when it comes to the magical realism genre. However, Ava Lavender was a beautiful, strange and sorrowful novel, so it's pretty aptly named. I'm not even sure how to describe the plot but I'd definitely recommend it!

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Asking For It by Louise O'Neill

5/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Asking For It sucked me in almost immediately and I'm still thinking about it a couple of weeks on. It's the story of Emma, and what happens to her when she wakes up after a party unable to remember what happened the night before. This book has such an important message and I would highly recommend it to everyone because of that.

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What have you been reading throughout June? Let us know in the comments!

Becky's May Reads

May was such a good month in terms of books for me! I read some books that I'd been highly anticipating, and the two of us received a few ARC's of some amazing books - more about those further down! I read twelve books throughout May, and because of this, I upped my Goodreads 2016 reading challenge from fifty to seventy. Since I'm still halfway through this goal, I'm thinking of increasing it again soon!

The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater

4/5 stars

The final instalment in The Raven Cycle, The Raven King concludes the adventures of Blue, Gansey, Ronan, Adam and Noah in their hunt for the Welsh King Glendower. I didn't rate this book as highly as the rest of the series as there were too many loose ends left in my opinion, however it was still an enjoyable read if you don't think about the last few chapters!
(Angharad posted a full review of The Raven King here).

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A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas 

5/5 stars

Well, I think I've been screaming about ACOMAF so much that everyone already knows my opinion by now, but just in case you don't... 
I absolutely love Sarah J Maas, and I think this is by far her best book. ACOMAF opens just a few months after where A Court of Thorns and Roses left off. We see Feyre struggling with PTSD after what happened to her in the previous book, and her growth from that point onwards is absolutely amazing. This book is all about character and relationship growth. Speaking of relationships - guys, lets talk about Feysand. I have never seen such a perfect couple (fictional or otherwise). Feyre's acknowledgement of the abuse she received from Tamlin and her pulling away from that into a healthy, equal relationship is phenomenal and is such an important, true to life message. 
(Read my full review here).

p.s. both Angharad and I genuinely loved this book so much that we got Night Court tattoos! If inking a reminder of a book onto your skin for eternity isn't proof that it's a good book, then I don't know what is. Here's my tattoo!

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The Rose and the Dagger by Reneé Ahdieh

5/5 stars

This was the perfect ending to a perfect duology. The Rose and the Dagger wasn't as fast-paced and action packed as The Wrath and the Dawn, however it was still an amazing book in it's own right and it wrapped everything up perfectly. Since I only read The Wrath and the Dawn a couple of months ago, I feel like I both started and finished this series very fast, however it'll always hold a place in my heart since I've given both of the books a solid five stars. 

Read my full review here.

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The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi 

3/5 stars

Although I found this to be a fairly enjoyable read, something about it just didn't quite click for me. There seemed to be quite a merging of genres and influences, and although I appreciate all of those genres on their own, I'm not sure how well they worked together as a whole. One aspect of The Star-Touched Queen that I did appreciate was the influences from Indian culture - there was even a little word glossary at the back, which I loved! However, the writing style was beautiful and as I say, overall I did enjoy this book. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what the author writes next, as her writing is just perfection! 

Read my full review here.

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A Gathering of Shadows by V. E. Schwab

4/5 stars

After reading A Darker Shade of Magic in one sitting, I knew that I'd love it's sequel just as much. A Gathering of Shadows goes at a much slower pace and the majority of the plot is building up to something that happens in the last quarter of the book, but the characters and relationships are built upon so well. It did feel just a little bit like it was the middle book of a trilogy (which, well, it is), but I still think it's a must read! There was also a disgustingly upsetting cliffhanger, so I need A Conjuring of Light now, please. 

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This Savage Song by V. E. Schwab

5/5 stars

V. E. Schwab's latest release, This Savage Song, is the story of Kate and August, who live in a world where violence creates literal monsters. We were sent this book by the publishers, Titan Books, and we both absolutely loved it. It's released on the 7th June and we'd definitely recommend that you take a look at it!

Read our full review here.

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Cruel Reality: Games of Life and Death by C. J. Whitley

We were sent this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. Cruel Reality is a book reminiscent of The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner and, to an extent, The 100. It follows the stories of Mike and Kay, two young people who are amongst 300 British citizens who've been kidnapped and awoken on a boat, with no idea what happened or where they're heading. They eventually arrive at a tropical island, and this is where the action starts. It was released on the 27th May, so if that sounds like your sort of thing, it's now available to buy! 

Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me. I couldn't get on with Mike, the protagonist, and I need to have that relationship with a main character to enjoy a book. 

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Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys 

3/5 stars

Between Shades of Gray, set in 1941 and inspired by true events, follows the story of Lina and her family as they are taken from their home in Lithuania and transported to a Soviet work camp.

What I got most from this book was a newfound knowledge of the Baltic countries during WWII. Despite studying this era and event extensively throughout my education, I don't think I've ever been told anything about what Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia went through during the war or with the Soviet Union under Stalin. I appreciated the little history lesson, but at the same time I was dying for the characters and plot to be as good as the information, and unfortunately I just didn't think they were. Lina's story should've been heartbreaking, but I just wasn't feeling it - the writing felt very detached, which wasn't something I wanted when people were being tortured or starving to death. I want books like this to destroy me, to rip my soul to shreds and make me cry so much that my eyes are red for days afterwards because I rubbed them too much (I can confirm that books have made this happen before). Overall, a good book but it just lacked the ability to make me empathise with the characters.

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The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma

3/5 stars

The Walls Around Us was a quick, interesting read for me. It follows Amber, a girl in a detention centre, Violet, a talented ballerina, and Orianna, the girl who links the two of them together. I enjoyed this book but some parts of it were just too confusing, and I think if the paranormal aspect of the book had been played down, it would've been far better. I did enjoy the ending, though - it was so unique and unlike anything I've ever read before! 

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Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas

5/5 stars

I really got in the mood for dark contemporaries towards the end of this month, and Dangerous Girls satisfied my craving perfectly. This is the story of Anna, who is away for Spring Break with her friends, when one morning they find her best friend Elise stabbed to death in her room. Anna is immediately labelled as the prime suspect. I loved this book so much that I finished it in just a few hours - it drags you in and keeps you captivated throughout its entirety. The ending was absolutely perfect; I was so shocked by it but at the same time, so happy. I can't recommend this book enough! 

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Nevernight by Jay Kristoff 
5/5 stars

We were sent copies of Nevernight by the publisher, HarperVoyager. It is about Mia, a girl seeking revenge for the deaths of her parents, who goes to join the Red Church - a secret assassins guild. Mia's different from the other initiates though, as she is Darkin and can control the shadows. 
This book is by far one of the best I've read this year. I knew when I read about it that I had to have it, but I didn't realise just how perfect it would be. The plot, the characters, the twists  throughout, the Italian inspirations... Literally, this is such a perfect book. Plus, who doesn't want a cat made of shadows named Mister Kindly for a sidekick?
Nevernight is released on the 11th August in the UK and the 9th August in the US, and I'd 100% recommend that you go and preorder a copy of it now!

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The Girl with All the Gifts by M. R. Carey
2/5 stars 

The Girl with All the Gifts is the story of Melanie, a young girl who is locked in a cell, restrained, and escorted to her classes each day by guards who strap her to a chair, along with a group of other children. They have no idea why they're there, and for a while, neither does the reader. I just couldn't get into this book. I felt as though the beginning of it, which was set in the base where Melanie was originally held, was much more interesting than the rest of the book, which descended into a story very stereotypical of it's genre (I won't say too much about that as it gives away a plot point). I didn't care about any of the secondary characters, so when the chapters started being from their points of view rather than Melanie's, I wasn't enjoying the story at all. I feel as though I'm the odd one out here as lots of people do seem to love this book, so if it sounds like your style, I'd still recommend it! I'm afraid it just wasn't for me. 

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What have you been reading throughout May? Any recommendations? Let us know in the comments!

Becky's April Reads

I've read a lot of great books this past month, including some books from a few series's that I can't wait to carry on reading!

For starters, I finally got around to reading Maggie Stiefvater's The Raven Cycle series in time for The Raven King. I can't believe I didn't get around to reading this series sooner - I'm already in love with the plot and the characters!

Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

4/5 stars

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A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab 

4/5 stars

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An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

5/5 stars

Our review of An Ember in the Ashes was the first that we posted here on Two Book Thieves - take a look!

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The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater 

5/5 stars

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The Reflections of Queen Snow White by David Meredith

2/5 stars

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Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

4/5 stars

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What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler

5/5 stars

We recently wrote a full review of What We Saw. Take a look at that post here!

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The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater 

5/5 stars

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Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

4/5 stars

Take a look at our more detailed reviews of Burial Rites over on this post!

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The Mirror and the Maze by Renee Ahdieh 

4/5 stars

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Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

5/5 stars

What have you been reading throughout April? Let us know in the comments!