Mindless (Short Story) - Louise Cole

Synopsis:

‘My parents chose who they wanted to be and I knew it would end badly. What I didn’t see is I’d be the one to pay the price.’

Everything changes the day Stella is hit by a car outside her London council flat. It’s not an accident. It’s a warning. Her dumb, drug-dealing father and her soppy mother don’t have the sense between them to keep Stella and her little brother safe. Her father Joe has stolen from local mob boss Horse - and then his scheme to repay Horse goes south, and lands Joe in prison. Where he starts to talk.
Horse is coming for them. If anyone is going to protect her family, it will have to be Stella herself. But how far will she go? And who must she become in order to survive?

Tense, gritty and beautifully written, Mindless is the story of a clever girl trapped in a stupid, violent world. It will appeal to young adults and adults alike. Told by Stella itself, the story alternates between the thriller narrative and her later conversations with her psychiatrist.

Review:

Firstly I'd like to thank Louise for providing me a copy of Mindless for a honest review, I hope she likes what I have to say.

So we follow Stella who's clearly an intelligent young woman, she tells us her story and its a tense one at that. Her life isn't perfect but it is what it is and things change one day when Stella gets hit by a car right outside of her council flat in London and I have to admit I flinched at this scene, I physically recoiled which was a clear sign I was really into the book. Stella ends up in the hospital and goes on to recover from the incident and she becomes aware soon after that it wasn't an accident, instead it was a warning for her Father.

Stella clearly has more sense than both of her parents put together and her brother isn't like Stella, she quickly puts together the proof in her mind and a plan to execute, going on to confront her dad and he reassures her he's going to fix it all, but things goes south when the scheme he made to fix it all goes south and puts him behind bars where he can't keep his mouth shut and Stella remains aware throughout, figuring it out that if they can't do a good job of getting to Joe whilst behind bars, they'll hurt him through the people outside of prison whom he loves but Stella is already ready for this as her mind is the only one functioning.

The last part of the middle and the ending of the book blew me away, it was intense action and utterly jaw dropping. Stella is clearly a very strong and determined character well built and portrayed. Although only a short story I utterly loved it, I'd easily fall in love with Stella all over again if she ever resurfaced in any more work of Louise'. A short story indeed, immersive more so, action packed and wonderful I have to give it a 5/5 which it truly deserves. Louise has a great writing style which I fell in love with in The Devil's Poetry when I read it not so long back.

An American Cage by Ted Galdi

Synopsis:

Three inmates break out of a maximum-security prison in Texas, one of them Danny Marsh, a suburban kid in his twenties who landed in jail because of a crime he never intended to commit.

An American Cage follows Danny and his two escape partners over a twenty-four-hour period as they struggle to cross Texas to freedom in Mexico. On this dangerous journey, Danny has to evade the rabid Texas authorities, and even worse, the schemes of one of his closest allies, who isn't who he seems.

Review:

So I managed to read this book in like 6 hours, it was so good I really couldn't put it down so it wasn't much of a surprise for me to read it all in one go. 

Danny Marsh is 24 years old, after one error of judgment one night after a dinner out with his colleagues he ends up behind bars at Crick Maximum Security Prison located in Texas. He was often a victim of panic attacks until he was housed with a new cellmate, the soft spoken Professor Phil Zorn who's forty-ish and a neuroscience researcher and was able to offer Danny father-like support and encouragement. It is then no surprise that when Phil plans a prison break, Danny, as well as ghetto raised Monty Montgomery support the escape plan.

I don't want to run through the book bit by bit and ruin it from anyone so I'll leave it there but as soon as you open the book you are thrown right into the action, it's a gripping piece of writing all the right way through. We see all of this over a 24 hour period, the time is filled by great characterizations and relentless action which helps the time pass super quickly. The characters are perfectly crafted and well developed throughout the story which juts makes it all the more wonderful. 

Although there are three main characters and point of view, we see some of the story through other characters eyes which only deepens the link between story and reader. It was lovely to see the book broken up by changes in the POV which helped give the reader a look a all angles of the story including the police and the family of those involved. 

I wasn't expecting the ending to play out like it did, it was a great surprise and I actually loved it more than I probably should. This books was truly great, even much so that on Instagram where I was hosting a book tag in August I named this book my favourite book of the year so far. Ted Galdi crafted a great book with great characters and executed it all perfectly and even though I didn't know what exactly to expect from this book when I first opened it, I fell in love with what came from it in the end. I cant give this book anything less that the 5/5 it deserves, and I can only recommend this book to anyone out there who wants to be surprised and immersed in action.

Than you to Ted who provided a copy of the book for an honest review, it was an honour.

Esper Files -Egan Brass

Synopsis:

Set in London during the latter part of the 19th century. An experiment goes wrong at The Oxford Academy of Science, giving certain people extraordinary powers which turns them into 'Espers'. An institute is set up to teach Espers how to control these power, and stop corrupt Espers from abusing theirs. Nathan and James, two agents from the Institute team up with Freya, a young Esper whose brother (gifted with the strange ability to manipulate emotions) is abducted by a ruthless Baron. The group has to fight against a dark threat to protect the fragile peace of Victorian London... And the rest of the world.

Review:

This book is the first in a series called Esper Files,  we first start off with a prologue which shows us the experiment that goes wrong in the late 19th century. It immediately grips you and you begin to wonder what the outcome of it all would be even more so if you haven't read the synopsis (which some people don't) The experiment that goes wrong goes down in history as the Great Storm, on that day unlike the character nicknamed The Professor intended, the world changed.

We are then introduced to Nathan who is our main character, he is witty, sarcastic, intelligent and enthusiastic. I imagine him being a very wonderful human being if he was actually real and in my life. We also meet James who is a character of colour who is a supporting character who really is just as important as Nathan. They both have developed powers thanks to the Great Storm and are now working with a place called The Institute that helps Espers control their powers and also stop corrupt Espers from abusing their powers.

You're pretty much pushed right into the action, no dilly dallying around with building up everything because the ways its written does that just perfectly in half the time. We see the so called 'villain' of the book called The Baron who captures a young Esper by the name of Siren and take him away from his sister Freya as he plans to steal the sirens power for himself. Before you know it, Nathan and James are coming to Siren's rescue.

We do see many perspectives on the side of the main perspective provided by Nathan, we see those of The Baron, Shadow ( a ruthless assassin) as well as the perspectives of The Siren and his older sister Freya, all of which help bulk out the story.The setting of the story being in old time London really helped me get immersed in it as I can easily imagine an old London rather than a far fetched super robotic futuristic London.  I really fell in love with the characters, the storyline, the action and the writing as a whole. It was a super easy read, it took me just 2 days I believe and I was left not only waning more but needing more.

The members of The Institute act like a single person, they are somewhat a huge family. Thinking about it now I can see themes likes the corruption of power and greed and the whole family theme which is strong and easily idolised. Its an easy 5/5 for me and I can easily recommend it to anyone around me within a 10 mile radius. Immersive, quick and action packed read.

Eric Olafson, Space Pirate - Vanessa Ravencroft

Synopsis:

It's the year 5021 and the Milky Way Galaxy is teeming with life and exotic species. The majority of the known civilisations have formed a multi-cultural mega organization called the United Stars of Galaxies. This Union is protected by the brave men and women of the United Stars Space fleet against external threats.

Eric Olafson, born and raised under harsh conditions of the traditional and inward looking society of Nilfeheim, left his planet to fulfil his dreams of becoming a Starship captain.

When Eric gets kidnaped by an unknown organization and brought to Sin4, he slowly starts to discover his central role in an ancient conflict of cosmic proportions.

Review:

First of all I have to say that I was contacted and given a copy of the book in return I was to give an honest review. All the opinions in this review are mine and I am going to try and avoid any sort of spoilers that I can and still try to give a good quality review.

Today is in fact Eric Olafson Space Pirate' publication day! HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY ❤

Admittedly jumping in to this book was kind of like being thrown right into the deep end of a pool and barely being able to swim because this book is part of a larger series, and I mean a large series. Without reading any of the other books I was pretty much drowning right away, all the characters flooded me and I was tying to keep them separate and it was beyond a struggle. I hadn't read any of the other instalments so everything was overwhelming and hard to process as I was reading and trying to establish a clear image.

I struggled and continue to struggle with identifying and analysing how I feel towards all of the characters involved in the plot. I mean Eric is our main character and he wants nothing more than to fulfil his dream of becoming a starship captain. He end sup kidnapped and then basically from there on out I'm pretty much rolling down a hill it was that hard to keep track of everything that was happening. As much as I really wanted to connect with Eric and the other characters, I feel as though that my lack of knowledge on them due to not reading any of the other books really effected that and the only link between me and them was the fact they were in the story, I was nowhere near feeling any emotion or connection between myself and them. I will hopefully be able to put time aside in the future to read the series from the start in hopes of gripping the larger picture and establishing some sort of understanding and connection with the book and characters.

For what I understood and managed to keep a hold on, I loved. The action really pleased me and the level of detail was really awesome. At points the amount of detail was annoying but for the most part its use really helped to get me immersed. At points the level of detail did end up actually pushing me from the book and I found myself unable to read the book for a few hours just because the detail felt overpowering, like the author had tried so hard to immerse the readers and create a believable setting that it just ended up being too much and became overwhelming, almost so detailed and needing to be gripping that you could tell it was a work of fiction, I'm trying to say that at points the level of detail it had stopped it being immersive, so detailed it was obviously nowhere near real.

I must keep it clear that this book is great for those who love Sci.fi action and have time to read all of the other books or have a great ability to follow stories that are really sort of in the middle of a series without reading the others. I can 100% see why people who have read the book and series love it and love Vanessa, I can 100% see why Inkitt published this book. I just really wished I had caught wind of the series a long time ago so I could have followed it all the way and gotten a real addiction to it. However it wasn't meant to be and I was drowning the moment I begun reading but I loved what I read for the most part and I wish Vanessa continued luck with the series. Its a 3.5 out of 5 and I hope that my opinion and view does in no way deter you from embarking on the journey through the series.

Grab your copy from Amazon here!

Read more about this instalment on Goodreads

Read Pre- release reviews here

To read about all of Vanessa's work, go here

The Last Grey Sky - Natalie Scrivener

Synopsis:
There were two things that brought the world to its knees. First the colours. Then the insanity.


Review:

So I found this book on an app called Inkitt, it just attracted me instantly and I couldn't turn away. The book is all about Gwen, who is part of a camp who are trying to survive in the world that is overtaken by a disease that makes you see colour when infected. After shocks which included seeing the execution of an infected camp member and later seeing colour, she is faced with 2 choices to leave, or be put down. At first she aimed to leave and die alone away from her friends so she isn't any harm to her campmate, but after a short while she cant find it within herself to do it, that's when Ryan who she had encountered in camp finds her, begging for him to do it all over again like she had seen him do before, she begs to be put down by him because he unlike her is stronger than she is. He can't face it, she's just a child and after a short argument, they both run away together, away from the threat of death towards the hope of surviving without fear.

Like they both thought, after a while as they head towards the city where they heard a cure was being made, they both end up seeing colour and Gwen holds her guilt to infecting Ryan close to heart but he doesn't blame her at all, he knew the risk and took it anyway. The city sounds like its too good to be true but is it or not?  it's really a book to read if you want to find out if all is as it seems.

The characters were so easy to connect with, I felt the pain for Gwen as she experiences the highs and lows of her journey to surviving the new world. The highs were in fact that the colours she experience were truly beautiful. She's 17 years old and being only a year younger than me I felt like it was much easier to connect with her although I'm not living in a world like she is, but I felt like we had certain emotions and reactions to certain situations that mirrored each other.

Ryan was a great character too, he was willing to risk all for a girl he knew very little about and he didn't give it a second thought. He was a gentleman and really decent male character, he was the sort you wished were real because he seems better than half of the guys you actually know in real life.

There are so many characters that come into the story, they're all well written, well explored and each have a great part to play in the unravelling of the plot. The plot was very unique and beautiful, I was really gripped by each page. The ending blew me away really, each chapter blew me away so it all came together and blew me half the way around the world. It's definitely a book worth reading if you like adventures and action and if you're looking for something that will keep its hold on you. I really want to speak to the author and have a good old chat about it all. its a 5/5 from me with no second thought needed.

Ravens Peak (World On Fire Series #1) - Lincoln Cole

Synopsis:

A quiet little mountain town is hiding a big problem. When the townsfolk of Raven's Peak start acting crazy, Abigail Dressler is called upon to discover the root of the evil affecting people. She uncovers a demonic threat unlike any she's ever faced and finds herself in a fight just to stay alive.

Abigail rescues Haatim Arison from a terrifying fate and discovers that he has a family legacy in the supernatural that he knows nothing about. Now she's forced to protect him, which is easy, but also to trust him if she wants to save the townsfolk of Raven's Peak. Trust, however, is something hard to have for someone who grew up living on the knife's edge of danger.

Can they discover the cause of the town's insanity and put a stop to it before it is too late?

Review:

Lincoln had contacted me early June asking if id like to read Ravens Peak and give an honest review, I said yes of course and added it to my list to be read but I eventually got around to it.

It all begins with reverend Arthur who within seconds had me asking all sorts of questions about his character. I loved that about Arthur, he was a mystery. He receives a visitor named Freida who rings familiar to him and upon meeting with her not only does Arthurs story begin but so does the journey.
It turns out Arthur is a demon hunter and he wants revenge for the death of Abigail, someone he thought of as his daughter. However, he soon learns that Abigail isn't dead but possessed and in the act of saving her ( after an epic scene that Supernatural would be proud of), Arthur is banished to Hell.

Five months later we see the world through Abigail's eyes, and she works for a secret organisation called the Council. In a series of events that end up with Abigail gaining a sidekick called Haatim, they travel across America trying to get to Ravens Peak which has 2 versions. One is an old town within the forest that now acts as a camping ground whilst the second is a modern version.
All Abigail wants to do now is save Arthur, but at first glance it seems like more trouble than its worth.

The action is really great throughout this book and especially the parts based within Ravens Peak, I loved both of the characters and really started to feel emotionally attached to them. I loved how the characters changed from what hey were at the beginning, Haatim begins as an inexperienced and fragile youth to them becoming confident and better equipped to deal with what is going on around him. Abigail begun being independent and slightly stubborn but by the end barriers have been broken down which makes her more loveable.

 Lincoln wastes no words in his writing, every sentence is added because it is needed to progress the story. I was fully immersed throughout and cannot fault Lincoln's writing at any point, I loved the fact there was unexpected twists in the plot and action packed scenes that moved along quickly so the story could progress further.

Has to be a 5/5 for this book and I really can not wait to see what happens next in the World On Fire Series.







 

Inevitable Ascension - V.K McAllister



(Alternate cover)

Synopsis:

The innocent never waver from doing what’s right, even if it means drowning the world in fire.

Violina had been burned and betrayed by mankind ever since she sprang into existence. They named her a heretic and condemned her to a pit to live and die in agony. Though she sat stranded, starved and bloodied, she would not submit. Violina, the girl who had been mocked and hunted for rejecting the warped ideals of artificial authority, would lay down her own law.

Review:

I received the book in exchange of a honest review.

I have to say that I did get confused at times throughout the book because I was forgetting locations and names and such but I had really grown attached to Violina and Lux, I was from the start till the very end. I felt like I connected to them most because they are how I'd want to portray myself in their sort of scenario and their personalities slightly match mine.

The rest of the characters weren't very much my cup of tea but I think that's because of who they were portrayed as excluding Kza who although is portrayed a certain way was the only other character but the girls that really got my attention.

You are pretty much thrown into the action straight away and I really like that as there wasn't half a book leading up to some mediocre battle or something, it was right from the outset and was always nail biting when it came to the action.

To me I felt like the book had political undertones throughout but I was really loving the idea of a better world. I agreed with the aspirations and actions of both Violina and Lux although they did seem really reckless at times and sometimes irrational. 

The time travel was great, I loved how it worked, i liked how they acknowledged the butterfly effect.

The ending was definitely not what I was expecting, I admit I was really taken back by the ending as I was really hoping for something different but the end it got was shocking yet I loved it, it really bought the whole book to a great end and I wasn't at all dissapotined with anything.

I give it a 5/5 although I debated giving it a 4 due to the confusion I had at the beginning and at small moments throughout but I realised that was my fault and not the authors. 

I love the thought and outcome of the Husband and Wife duo working on books. This time around it produced a unique and thrilling read, spoken in one voice.

Here's the books new trailer. 



Insurgent - Veronica Roth

"Tris has survived a brutal attack on her former home and family. But she has paid a terrible price. Wracked by grief and guilt, she becomes ever more reckless as she struggles to accept her new future.

Yet if Tris wants to uncover the truth about her world, she must be stronger than ever...because more shocking choices and sacrifices lie ahead."

Still haunted by her actions Tris can not stop reliving them. The group reaches the fence and enter the Amity compound looking for allies. After one battle is over another one begins.

I still favour Four Tris and Christina but after reading this book I don't think I  can favour Caleb. Tori becomes stronger and more influential and those are great traits. Uriah is a wonder because even in the worst of times he can always crack a joke and smile.

In this book I saw none of it coming, I was always guessing and trying to figure out what was to comes but the only way it would happen was if i were to carry on reading. I can remember welling up reading this book but never full on crying. I did laugh when I can, Probably just to stop me from crying.
 

I can remember opening this book whilst lying on my bed at 10am, I  lay there till 8pm reading it, Maybe my curiosity got the best of me but the book sure as hell kept me turning pages.

Just like Divergent I dislike it having a last page with a last word and a last full stop, but knowing I was now going to be on the final book made it even more heart breaking. This book has even less traits with The Hunger Games, It is more independent and original now. I can no longer compare any of Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant with The Hunger Games.

If you are a teenager who likes romance and action this book is for you.

The book has a cover that is truly glorious, Magnificent in its own right.

Book Rating:

5/5

Divergent - Veronica Roth

"Sixteen-year-old Tris is forced to makes a terrible choice. In a divided society where everyone must conform, Tris does not fit.
So she ventures out alone, determined to discover where she truly belongs. Shocked by her brutal new life, Tris can trust no one. And yet she is drawn to a boy who seems to both threaten and protect her.
The hardest choice lies ahead."

Young Beatrice Prior lives in a community divided into 5 factions;
Dauntless
Abnegation
Candor
Amity
Erudite
The factions have different values but none the same.

Beatrice is 16 and lives in a house with her family in Abnegation.The Selfless. She now has a choice to change that, she doesn't think she truly belongs and decides to change, so she does. To Dauntless. The Brave

When it comes to picking a favourite character in a trilogy it can differ or I just keep adding more to the list. As this is the first instalment of the trilogy, I am currently in favour of Beatrice 'Tris' Prior, Tobias 'Four' Eaton, Tori, Caleb and Christina. Tris is on a voyage of self discovery and I believe you have to be strong and brave to want to discover yourself. Four is strong and stern, he has a soft side but he's independent when it comes to thinking but he finds it difficult to find trust within people. Caleb is brave and intelligent and strong willed, that is why I like him, he is the perfect combination of bravery and intelligence. Christina is truthful and doesn't care for the repercussions of being so. She is also a supportive and caring friend.

I always get asked 'do the characters feel real to you?' and it is always the same answer. Yes. In a trilogy or just any book they are real. Like if I call their names they would run up the stairs and join me, That is how real they can be to me. To have a character feel real, you must allow yourself to believe. The material is in front of you, you just have to believe.

The book to me had a few predictable moments but besides those moments I was forced to keep guessing as everything else was unpredictable. I cant say I have a favourite part of the book without spoiling it 100% so it be open for discussion.

The action scenes are written particularly well. I always feel myself being drawn further and further in during the action scenes. I had cried at this books and well I cry at most books, but I cred at the emotionally tense parts.
This book draws you in and keeps you turning pages. I finished Divergent a while back but I was eager to read the following book, Insurgent. But during exams I didn't have enough time to do so, but eventually after my exams I had the time.

I think the only thing I dislikes about the book was that it had a last pages,a last word,a last full stop. But what softened the blow was the fact I had two more books to read after it.
If you like action and romance and you are a teenager this books is for you, I can remember saying this book has small traits of The Hunger Games, it does but only tiny ones.

The books front cover is amazing and uses a blend of really gorgeous colours.

Book Rating:
4/5