YA – A frolic through fiction

Book Haul Highlights // Autumn Edition

Posted on December 16, 2018December 14, 2018 by Ashleigh

title image - blurry photo of books as background with a white banner across the middle saying book haul highlights

Yes, Autumn has passed but I’m late and didn’t want to miss out this blog post, so here we are.

A few weeks ago I uploaded an Autumn Book Haul to my youtube channel, and while I didn’t want to repeat content on here, I still wanted to show you folks some of the books I’m excited about. So I thought I’d bring back the book haul highlights, where I show you a few of the books I’m most excited about from the haul!

If you’d like to watch the full video it will be at the end of this post, but if you want to hear about some of the books I’ve acquired lately and am most excited for, here we are!

Fantasy & Myths | My favourite books of 2018 so far

Posted on July 8, 2018 by Ashleigh

High angle showing an assortment of my favourite books of 2018 so far - the covers hidden - and my travel journal for decoration

Apparently, I’ve become a harsher reviewer in 2018. I say this because now we’re in the 7th month of the year, and I haven’t rated any books 5 stars yet. None. Zero. Zilch. Why?? It’s true, I’m reluctant to give anything less than a newfound all-time fave 5 stars, but you’d figure that somewhere in the 35 books I’ve read so far this year, I’d have found one. It seems not.

Despite this, there are a few that have still stood out to me this year and have gotten close to those treasured 5 stars. I don’t think anyone will be surprised to see there’s a theme of fantasy and ancient history. But these four books are the ones currently in the running for my favourites of 2018…unless I miraculously discover a whole suitcase full of new favourites in the next 5 months between now and the end of the year. But here, (a little over) halfway through, we have my current highlights!

Continue reading Fantasy & Myths | My favourite books of 2018 so far

All These Beautiful Strangers by Elizabeth Klehfoth | Don’t let the rainbow cover deceive you

Posted on June 13, 2018June 17, 2018 by Ashleigh

Inside cover of All These Beautiful Strangers by Elizabeth Klehfoth, photo for the book review

• Goodreads | Book Depository •

Don’t let the rainbow cover deceive you; this book is far from the happy-go-lucky story you might expect. Following Charlie Calloway in her Junior year at high school, things gradually begin to turn serious as she’s offered the chance to join secret – though dangerous – exclusive society, dubbing her as one of the elite. When things turn darker and a family secret is unexpectedly involved, the mystery needs to unravel for Charlie to know where she stands.

Continue reading All These Beautiful Strangers by Elizabeth Klehfoth | Don’t let the rainbow cover deceive you

Scythe by Neal Shusterman | Utopia has its problems…

Posted on May 22, 2018May 22, 2018 by Ashleigh

Scythe

• Goodreads | Book Depository •

In a world where natural death has been eradicated and immortality is a standard expectation from life, Citra and Rowan are chosen as apprentice scythes – scythes being professional killers chosen to keep the population at bay. Thrown into a morbid world forever testing their morals, we learn about this new world order as we watch the two train for the hardest job of their lives.

Continue reading Scythe by Neal Shusterman | Utopia has its problems…

State of Sorrow by Melinda Salisbury | Fantasy, politics, and a whole lot of grief

Posted on April 14, 2018April 24, 2018 by Ashleigh

State of Sorrow

• Goodreads | Book Depository •

A grief-stricken world void of colour and laughter. Stories that seem legendary, but were real eighteen years ago. A girl taking the chance she never realised she wanted. All of this – and more – you’ll find in State of Sorrow, and I guarantee you it’s worth the read.

Continue reading State of Sorrow by Melinda Salisbury | Fantasy, politics, and a whole lot of grief

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han | I was probably way too cynical for this level of cringe

Posted on June 9, 2017June 8, 2017 by Ashleigh

PS I Still love you

I…don’t think this was the right time for me to read this book. I mean, I thought it was, because I wanted a light quick read and this seemed to be the one. But…maybe not.

spoiler free

Let’s dive right in!

PS I Still love you

Continue reading P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han | I was probably way too cynical for this level of cringe

Revelling in the magical atmosphere of the twisted game in…Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Posted on January 2, 2017December 28, 2016 by Ashleigh

caraval

All the way back in July, I was lucky enough to receive a stunning ARC of this book. But since it doesn’t come out until January, I restrained myself from reading it until December. I mean, I did want my review sat scheduled in my posts for 5 months now, did I?

And so at last, this book made it’s way onto my monthly TBR, and here we are today.

spoiler-free

Let’s talk about Caraval!

caraval caraval

Title: Caraval

Author: Stephanie Garber

Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Number of Pages: 416

To Be Released: 26th January 2017

Continue reading Revelling in the magical atmosphere of the twisted game in…Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Finding more about the past and future of our beloved squad in…Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

Posted on November 25, 2016November 19, 2016 by Ashleigh

stars-above

I FINALLY READ THIS BOOK ~~LET’S SHOUT OUR THANKS TO THE HEAVENS AND SING HALLELUJAH!~~

Seriously though. I only needed to read this book to finish the Lunar Chronicles series. It took me months, but finally FINALLY I’M DONE.

Which is funny really, considering this was one of my top priorities/anticipates releases and yet when I got it…nope. But here we are today.

Since this is a novella bind-up, the review will be slightly different. I’ll give a rating for each individual novella with a couple of sentences, then at the end give an overall summary and rating.

spoiler-free

Let’s talk about Stars Above!

(P.S. Sorry for the lousy photo. Darn you, artificial yellow lighting)

stars-above

Title: Stars Above

Author: Marissa Meyer

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Series Status: A novella bind-up companion to The Lunar Chronicles, to be read after Winter

Genre: Young Adult, SciFi, Fairytale Retelling

Number of Pages: 369

Continue reading Finding more about the past and future of our beloved squad in…Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

Illusion by Nadette Rae Rodgers | Everyone wants their dreams to come true…but not nightmares

Posted on November 11, 2016November 7, 2016 by Ashleigh

lllusion

I’m actually really glad this was a short read, because I had a mess up with my reviews. Last Friday I finished a book, in time for me to write and schedule it on Monday when I had time. Only to then realise it’s an ARC, and the review was planned to go up mid December. Meaning there was no book to review this week.

Then lo and behold, this book turned up on my doorstep, my weekend plans were unexpectedly cancelled, and the planets aligned to let me read this book over the weekend.