Review: Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein

Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein

Genre: Historical WWII fiction / Young Adult

Publisher: Electric Monkey, 2013

My Rating: 

Synopsis: Rose Justice is a young American ATA pilot, delivering planes and taxiing pilots for the RAF in the UK during the summer of 1944. A budding poet who feels vividly alive while flying, she is forced to confront the hidden atrocities of war – and the most fearsome.

 

 

They yelled in French and in Polish, English and German. “TELL THE WORLD! TELL THE WORLD! TELL THE WORLD!”

I read Code Name Verity, Wein’s first YA WWII novel about women during the war, quite a few years ago now. At the time, I loved it, as the World Wars are a time period I’m very interested in learning about. So, when I stumbled across the fact Wein had published another similar novel, I was over the moon. However, part of me worried it wouldn’t live up to the expectations of the first book.

That worry was pretty stupid, because of course Rose Under Fire was great. It tells the story of a young American girl who puts her passion for flying to use as she delivers planes for the allies in Britain, taking them to where they need to be for repairs or where fighter pilots need them. Rose is frustrated by the fact that the female ATA pilots cannot travel abroad. However, she has a few family connections, and strings are pulled that allow her to fly to a part of France recently liberated by the allies. That’s where something goes wrong.

The story has a slow start, but it’s not a bad kind of slow. It sets up Rose’s character well, the position of women in the air force, and what it was like for those in Britain during the Blitz. Wein is brilliant at crafting a believable voice for her first-person narrators. Both Code Name Verity and Rose Under Fire are written in diary format. The little descriptions Wein throws in of Rose’s childhood are detailed yet short, building up a believable portrait of Rose Justice.

Rose is headstrong yet romantic, and it’s these qualities that get her through the horrors of the war as one headstrong mistake lands her in enemy territory, away from the relative safety she has known in Britain and America.

We don’t initially find out quite what’s happened to Rose. Her diary ends abruptly a quarter of the way through when she is supposed to be heading home from France and the voice changes to a friend. From this section, we glean that Rose has gone missing, presumed dead. Then, Rose’s voice returns some six months later. She has made it back from Ravensbruck, the concentration camp for women.

The rest of the book follows Rose as she writes about the horrors she has witnessed and endured, as well as the struggles she faces readjusting to life after the war. Wein details a horrific and vivid depiction of Ravensbruck, making sure not to dress-up the story in a way that makes it easier to read. This part of the story is harrowing, yet tinged with hope, as Rose finds a surrogate family in the camp, with two stand-out characters being Roza and Irina.

Roza in particular was a captivating character, especially because of who she was. Roza is one of the Rabbits, Polish girls who were experimented on by the Nazis in Ravensbruck. These experiments involved, in very simple terms, cutting into the girls legs and studying infection, as well as removing parts of bones. As a result, Roza struggles to walk, but what has been done to her only enhances her already feisty, and sometimes heartless, nature. Roza can be really quite rude and spiteful, and it seems these are qualities she has had since childhood. Yet, despite the fact she can say some very nasty things, I really warmed to her. She’s determined, vicious, intent on justice for what has happened to the Rabbits. You can’t entirely blame her for her sometimes savage remarks after the way she’s been treated since her capture at age 14. She was definitely the most nuanced, as well as flawed yet likeable, character.

Then there is Irina, who is a Soviet fighter pilot. Like Roza, she can also be a bit hard, but together with Rose she is instrumental in the survival of this ragtag family of girls: Rose, Roza, Irina, Karolina and Lisette. They are determined that the world will know what has gone on here, that the world will find out what was done to the Rabbits. As the American, Rose is singled out as the one with the connections to get the story out there.

I really grew to love these characters. Even at the darkest moments, they stick together, intent on getting Roza and the other Rabbits’ story out of the camp. Sometimes when reading, I struggled with the fact that this all really happened. Whilst Rose’s personal story or Karolina’s or Lisette’s didn’t specifically happen, Ravensbruck did exist, and so did the Rabbits.

I thought the story was brilliantly written. Harrowing, hopeful, and not afraid to shy away from the realities of the war and the lengths these women would go to to make sure the world knew, to make sure that at least some of them got out alive.

Perhaps my only criticism, which is not actually a criticism, is that it ended too soon. I was so engrossed that when I turned the final page, I was shocked to see the notes from the author. I turned back and forth, confused, and then re-read the final passage, in disbelief that I wouldn’t find out any more.

I cannot recommend Rose Under Fire and Code Name Verity enough. Even if you’re not a fan of WWII fiction, I urge you to read them. The writing and characterisation is great, and the stories open your eyes to the atrocities that have been committed, and the hope that endured.

Sorry for the slightly late review, but I finished Rose Under Fire just before I went on holiday for a week! Anyway, have you read either of these books? What did you think of them? Or do you want to read them? Let me know in the comments below!

My Top 5 YA Books From My Early Teens

Recently, I’ve been redecorating my room, and in the process I’ve found a lot of old books. Books I read and re-read numerous times in my early teens, when ‘YA’  wasn’t quite yet the booming market that it is today.

The books I loved in my early teens, from about 12-15, seem to have been forgotten about as YA became such a ‘big thing’ and new books flooded the market. The only few books from the 90s and early 00s that seem to have hung on have been Harry Potter and The Confessions of Georgia Nicolson. So, I’m here to showcase some of my favourite YA books from my early teens, and why they shouldn’t just be swept under the carpet.

It’s ten years since the terrible war in the cities that took Kat and Tanka’s parents. A new life in the New Frontier beckons them, far from bullet holes and bomb craters. New Frontier people are building a fresh, liberal society, without the genetic classification and discrimination that led to the war. Kat and Tanka have a beautiful new home, Cherry Heaven, and everything promises them peace and happiness. But Cherry Heaven carries haunting marks of the past, bubbling to the surface in mysterious and frightening ways. 

Cherry Heaven came out whilst I was halfway through Year 8, so when I was almost 13. I didn’t know it at the time, but it was actually the second in a series. However, it read like a standalone and I never really felt confused.

I think I probably picked this one up because I liked the cover, but I’m fairly certain it might just have kick-started my love for all things dystopian. It was a really gripping and exciting read, with complex yet mysterious world-building. I’m not sure why I’ve never picked up the first book or the sequels – maybe because I was young and not too bothered about reading things in order or finishing series – but perhaps that’s something I’ll do now I’m older and at least a little more organised.

For fans of: dystopian thrillers.

Jessica Allendon is bored and Googles her name. Weirdly, she finds another girl, same age, same name, also living in London. They arrange to meet. At the designated time and place, Jess sees the girl, shock registering on both their faces as they realise they look identical. They shake hands and in that instant are catapulted into each other’s worlds. Jessica finds herself somewhere which looks like the London of 50 years ago, but the year is still 2008. In this parallel London, the history is different, key war memorials are missing, and the Jessica whose life she now inhabits was involved in a dark and sinister conspiracy. Jess must convince everyone she is the same girl, at all costs, if she wants to get back to her London – alive.

This is another published in February 2008, and I kept re-reading this all the way until I was 16, I enjoyed it that much. I suppose this is another dystopian-ish YA novel but, just like Cherry Heaven, it’s also a great thriller with some interesting and funny characters.

I can actually still remember much of this book and can still envisage particular scenes, which goes to show how much I enjoyed this one because I can’t even remember what I read two years ago.

For fans of: alternate history thrillers and a witty protagonist.

Sixteen-year-old Gemma has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother’s death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true.

Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls’ academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions.

Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions “for a bit of fun” and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left with the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the “others” and rebuild the Order.

To say I worshipped this series would be an understatement.

My dad actually chose the first book in this series for me. For someone who doesn’t read fiction, he’s strangely good at choosing books.

I can still partly remember the last page of the final book, The Sweet Far Thing, because it was so bittersweet and profound. Not only does this series have great writing, but it has intriguing characters, magical realism and a great romance. Also, this is probably the only book/series on my list that I still see mentioned today in the bookish community.

For fans of: historical fantasy and romance.

The days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve are dead days, when spirits roam and magic shifts restlessly just beneath the surface of our lives.

A magician called Valerian must save his own life within those few days or pay the price for the pact he made with evil so many years ago. But alchemy and sorcery are no match against the demonic power pursuing him. Helping him is his servant, Boy, a child with no name and no past. The quick-witted orphan girl, Willow, is with them as they dig in death fields at midnight, and as they are swept into the sprawling blackness of a subterranean city on a journey from which there is no escape.

I was a big fan of Marcus Sedgwick when I was younger. In fact, practically my whole family was. Me, my mum and my sister all read the Book of Dead Days series. I liked to try and read the same things as my mum and sister when I was younger, which is how I found out about my favourite YA series, Garth Nix’s Old Kingdom series, when I overheard my mum and sister chatting about it and wanted to be involved. The same happened for The Book of Dead Days and Sedgwick quickly became one of my go-to authors in my early teens.

This duology is quite sinister and dark for a YA series, but it’s one reason why I loved it. Not to mention the covers were made of this mottled kind of card and so they even felt creepy. Also, an honorary mention to one of Sedgwick’s other novels, My Swordhand is Singing, for being extremely creepy and helping to kickstart by zombie obsession.

For fans of: creepy historical horror and dark magic.

Ever since she was child, Jem has kept a secret: Whenever she meets someone new, no matter who, as soon as she looks into their eyes, a number pops into her head. That number is a date: the date they will die. Burdened with such awful awareness, Jem avoids relationships.

Until she meets Spider, another outsider, and takes a chance. The two plan a trip to the city. But while waiting to ride the Eye ferris wheel, Jem is terrified to see that all the other tourists in line flash the same number. Today’s number. Today’s date. Terrorists are going to attack London. Jem’s world is about to explode!

Even just thinking about this series gets me pumped up. This trilogy was action-packed and didn’t pull punches. Plus it had POC and biracial main characters, discussed issues like teen pregnancy and drugs, and looked at how the British government can fail young people from poorer areas. Not to mention it featured superpowers, of course.

For fans of: dystopian thrillers (again. Maybe my dystopian obsession did start earlier than I thought) and gritty, raw characters.

Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them? What books did you enjoy when you were younger? Let me know in the comments below!

 

Let’s Wrap: 2016

So the strange year that was 2016 has been and gone. A plethora of much-loved celebrities died, the UK voted to leave the EU (terrible decision) and the US voted into office a businessman with no political experience and who is named after a fart (even more terrible decision).

For me personally, 2016 was a rollercoaster of ups and downs. It started with the passing away of my Nan, which was a pretty awful beginning. Then I began this blog (getting a bit better); I came off antidepressants and can honestly say I beat depression (still battling the anxiety though, but it’s nowhere near as bad as it was); I managed to get my grades up in third year after a disaster of a second year and graduated with a 2:1 degree in BA Hons English (yay!); my short story was shortlisted for the HG Wells Short Story Competition and published (more yay!); then my hamster Cookie passed away, but not after helping me beat depression; and then, finally, we adopted a cat, Willow, who had been neglected but is on the way to being much happier.

So yes, that was pretty much the main highs and lows, but throughout it all I’ve had this blog and chatted to some amazing people here in the book blogosphere. Thanks to you all for keeping me sane!

In terms of my blog, I’m really proud of how far I’ve come since I started in March. I might not have as many followers as some who started the same time as me (honestly, I don’t know how you do it) but I’m so grateful to everyone who keeps up with this little blog of mine, all 276 of you, so thanks again!

Anyway, what about books? I won’t recap all of my posts since last March because looooong but I will have a look at some of my favourite and least favourite books of 2016 (starting from March because I can’t remember what I read before I started my blog). So, here goes.

None!

So, those are (almost) all of the books I read in 2016. You can find reviews for all of them here on my blog.

I was quite lucky this year in that I enjoyed the vast majority of the books I read. I’m very picky though and I’ll normally read reviews before I buy a book, which helps to wheedle out any bad ones or ones that just aren’t my sort of thing.

I have quite a big TBR at the moment so there are lots of books for me to get through this 2017. At the moment, I’m reading Vivian Versus the Apocalypse. I have mixed feelings about this one so stay tuned for my review.

After that, I’m thinking maybe An Ember in the Ashes, or change it up completely and read one of my WWII fiction novels: Where My Heart Used to Beat or All For Nothing. I think I’ll save my Christmas books for a little while to get through the backlog of books I already have.

Alternatively, I might try and finish the Red Rising trilogy as I adored the first two books when I read them last year.

As for what will be happening on my blog, I’m going to try and start posting more. I was doing well for most of 2016, but then it started getting quite busy towards the end of the year and my blog had to go on the back burner. I’ll definitely try and upload more discussion posts, and I have a few other posts planned, so stick around!

How was your 2016? Did you read any of these books last year? Did you love them? Hate them? Let me know in the comments below!

Christmas Book Haul

Hello again! I hope you all had a good Christmas. It’s been a quiet yet busy one for me, so I hope to catch up on everyone’s blog posts over the festive period when things calm down in the New Year.

But anyway, I thought I’d showcase the additions to my TBR this Christmas. I pretty much spent all of my Christmas money on books so there are quite a few here. It’s gonna take me a while to get through all of these, especially because my TBR before Christmas was already about 15 books long. But I think this is the first time I’ve ever had a TBR pile so big and trust me it feels good.

Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin

I’ve heard so many good things about this series so I am really excited to get stuck into it. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a fan of WWII literature, so this sounds great as a spin on that genre.

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Another series I’ve heard a lot about, albeit mixed things. I really like the premise so I’m willing to put aside any of the negative reviews I’ve seen and make my own judgements.

The Young Elites by Marie Lu

I really enjoyed Marie Lu’s debut dystopian series, and you can find my review of Champion, the final book, here. I’m hoping this new series lives up to my expectations. I’ve read great things about it, especially with its diversity.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Now, I haven’t really had a good track record with Stiefvater. I bought Shiver when it was first released and, whilst I loved how bleak the opening and setting was, the book quickly jumped into instalove and it really put me off. It was too similar to Twilight to really hold my interest so soon after that phenomenon, so I decided that Stiefvater wasn’t for me.

However, I’ve seen everyone raving about this new series of hers so I’ve finally decided to give it a go. I’m a little hesitant, especially as I really don’t like the cover, it looks very kiddy, but all the rave reviews have persuaded me to give Stiefvater another chance.

Slade House by David Mitchell

I’ve mentioned before on this blog how big a fan I am of David Mitchell. Cloud Atlas is one of my favourite books, and you can find my review for The Bone Clocks here. This one sounds creepier than his usual stuff so I’m very excited for it.

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

I’m not the biggest YA contemporary fan in the world, but if one of them is getting good reviews then I listen. This is definitely one I’ve been excited to get my hands on for quite a while.

Am I Normal Yet? by Holly Bourne

This YA contemporary series sounds like it’s the new Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, which is hands down one of the funniest YA contemporary series to ever be written and is a staple in any British girl’s teenage years.

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

I read Six of Crows not that long ago (review here) and I really enjoyed it, although I did think that there was so much hype I was expecting some kind of masterpiece and of course it was never going to live up to that. But anyway, it was still amazing and I’m excited to finish the series.

The Call by Peadar O’Guilin

This sounds unbelievably good. Creepy Irish YA horror? Count me in.

The Trees by Ali Shaw

This book is described as “does for trees what Hitchcock did for birds”. This is a apocalyptic novel (my favourite) about trees (…um?). Yes, you heard that right, but it’s received a lot of praise and I’m down for anything that’s apocalyptic.

SS-GB by Len Deighton

This is another alternate WWII history novel and it’s regarded as a classic. The BBC are also adapting it for TV so that should be good, especially after the success of The Man in the High Castle as a TV adaptation.

In a Land of Paper Gods by Rebecca Mackenzie

Every year my parents buy me and my sister a surprise book each for Christmas and this was mine. It’s set in China during WWII and sounds like it’s going to be a profound yet fantastical read.

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

This is another I’ve heard a lot about and I’ve been after it for quite a while. It sounds amazing and I love the cover.

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

I’ve also been after this for quite a while too. I’ve seen a few mixed things, I think that mainly the prose was too purple for some, but I don’t really mind purple prose as long as it’s effective and benefits the plot. I’m sure this will live up to my expectations.

Bright Smoke, Cold Fire by Rosamund Hodge

I’ve been extremely excited for this because it’s supposed to be Sabriel crossed with Romeo and Juliet and if you follow my blog then you’ll know Garth Nix’s Old Kingdom series is my favourite. I’m hoping this is as amazing as it sounds.

Have you read any of these books? Did you love or loathe them? Or do you want to read them? Did you get any books for Christmas? Let me know in the comments below!

Diversity Spotlight Thursday #2

Sorry I’ve been absent, again, for a week, but my boyfriend came to visit from Saturday to Tuesday and then I’ve been at work. I’ll try and do some blog hopping this weekend to catch up on what everyone else has been posting! Anyway, let’s get back to it.

Diversity Spotlight Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by Aimal @ Bookshelves and Paperbacks whereby you feature three diverse books from these categories:

1. A diverse book you have read and enjoyed
2. A diverse book that has already been released but you have not yet read
3. A diverse book that has not yet been released

This week, my books are:

1. A diverse book I have read and enjoyed: The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers

I’ve mentioned before on this blog how big a fan I am of The Member of the Wedding after studying it for my degree. It’s such a powerful book, wonderfully written, with quirky and loveable characters.

It depicts the life of Frankie Addams, a self-confessed tomboy, and her relationships with her father, her African American maid Berenice, her cross-dressing cousin John Henry, and her obsession with her brother’s wedding. The novel deals with the ideas surrounding gender and sexuality, as well as race. It’s honestly a brilliant and absorbing read.

2. A diverse book that has already been released but I haven’t yet read: The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

This book has garnered many accolades and a lot of critical acclaim since it was released, and I have to say it sounds amazing.

Set during the pre-Civil War slave trade in America, the novel follows Cora, a slave on a cotton plantation, and her attempts to escape via a secret underground railroad. The full synopsis makes the book sound like it’s going to be a whirlwind of a read, but also very profound. This is one that I’m really excited to get my hands on.

Amazon UK | Goodreads

3. A diverse book that has not yet been released: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

I’ve seen a lot of hype for this book recently and I’m really looking forward to it.

This is a YA contemporary inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, telling the story of 16-year-old Starr and the shooting of her unarmed friend by the police. I think this is definitely a book that is needed right now and hopefully it will open some eyes.

Amazon UK | Goodreads

Have you read any of these books? Did you enjoy them? Or do you want to read them? Let me know in the comments below!

 

 

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books I’ve Added To My Wishlist Lately

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week’s theme is 10 books you’ve recently added to your TBR. I’ve changed it to ‘wishlist’ because I class my TBR as books I actually own that are sitting on my shelves waiting to be read. My wishlist, however, is on Amazon and it’s where I’m constantly adding new books so I can keep track of all the ones I want.

So, here are 10 books I’ve recently added to my Amazon wishlist:

The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig | YA Historical Fantasy

It was the kind of August day that hinted at monsoons, and the year was 1774, though not for very much longer.

Sixteen-year-old Nix Song is a time-traveller. She, her father and their crew of time refugees travel the world aboard The Temptation, a glorious pirate ship stuffed with treasures both typical and mythical. Old maps allow Nix and her father to navigate not just to distant lands, but distant times – although a map will only take you somewhere once. And Nix’s father is only interested in one time, and one place: Honolulu 1868. A time before Nix was born, and her mother was alive. Something that puts Nix’s existence rather dangerously in question …

Nix has grown used to her father’s obsession, but only because she’s convinced it can’t work. But then a map falls into her father’s lap that changes everything. And when Nix refuses to help, her father threatens to maroon Kashmir, her only friend (and perhaps, only love) in a time where Nix will never be able to find him. And if Nix has learned one thing, it’s that losing the person you love is a torment that no one can withstand. Nix must work out what she wants, who she is, and where she really belongs before time runs out on her forever.

I’d heard a lot of good stuff about this book but, for some reason, it never really appealed to me. But after reading Jackie’s review @ Death By Tsundoku I was convinced to finally give it a chance and add it to my wishlist. Also, it has a diverse cast!

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin | Fantasy

Yeine Darr is an outcast from the barbarian north. But when her mother dies under mysterious circumstances, she is summoned to the majestic city of Sky – a palace above the clouds where gods’ and mortals’ lives are intertwined.

There, to her shock, Yeine is named one of the potential heirs to the king. But the throne of the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is not easily won, and Yeine is thrust into a vicious power struggle with a pair of cousins she never knew she had. As she fights for her life, she draws ever closer to the secrets of her mother’s death and her family’s bloody history.

But it’s not just mortals who have secrets worth hiding and Yeine will learn how perilous the world can be when love and hate – and gods and mortals – are bound inseparably.

Another book I added to my wishlist because of Jackie @ Death By Tsundoku! Plus that cover is just wow.

They Mostly Come Out At Night by Benedict Patrick | Fantasy

Lonan is an outcast, accused of letting the monsters that stalk the night into the homes of his fellow villagers. Now, he will not rest until he wins back the heart of his childhood love and reclaims the life that was stolen from him. However, locked safely in his cellar at night, in his dreams Lonan finds himself looking through the eyes of a young prince…

Adahy has a destiny, and it terrifies him. How can he hope to live up to the legend of the Magpie King, to become the supernatural protector of the forest and defender of his people? But when the forest is invaded by an inhuman force, Adahy must rise to this challenge or let the Wolves destroy his people.

Watching these events unfold in his sleep, Lonan must do what he can to protect his village from this new threat. He is the only person who can keep his loved ones from being stolen away after dark, and to do so he will have to earn back their trust or watch the monsters kill everyone that he holds dear.

I can’t remember who, but someone on WordPress reviewed this book a day or two ago, which is why it’s on my wishlist. If you’re that blogger, then let me know and I’ll add a link to your review here! This sounds like a very dark and creepy fantasy.

A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro | YA Mystery

Jamie Watson has always been intrigued by Charlotte Holmes; after all, their great-great-great-grandfathers are one of the most infamous pairs in history. But the Holmes family has always been odd, and Charlotte is no exception. She’s inherited Sherlock’s volatility and some of his vices and when Jamie and Charlotte end up at the same Connecticut boarding school, Charlotte makes it clear she s not looking for friends.

But when a student they both have a history with dies under suspicious circumstances, ripped straight from the most terrifying of the Sherlock Holmes stories, Jamie can no longer afford to keep his distance. Danger is mounting and nowhere is safe and the only people they can trust are each other.

There are a lot of Sherlock ‘retellings’ out there, but I’m hoping this is one of the good ones. I’m also excited to see a female Sherlock!

The House of Birds by Morgan McCarthy | Contemporary

Oliver has spent years trying to convince himself that he’s suited to a life of money making in the city, and that he doesn’t miss a childhood spent in pursuit of mystery, when he cycled around the cobbled lanes of Oxford, exploring its most intriguing corners.

When his girlfriend Kate inherits a derelict house – and a fierce family feud – she’s determined to strip it, sell it and move on. For Oliver though, the house has an allure, and amongst the shelves of discarded, leather bound and gilded volumes, he discovers one that conceals a hidden diary from the 1920s.

So begins a quest: to discover the identity of the author, Sophia Louis. It is a portrait of war and marriage, isolation and longing and a story that will shape the future of the abandoned house – and of Oliver – forever.

I’ve always been really interested in the World Wars and WWI/WWII fiction is one of my favourite genres. They’re often harrowing reads, but so engrossing, and I’ve heard good things about this book.

The Vagrant by Peter Newman | Sci-Fi | Apocalyptic Fiction

The Vagrant is his name. He has no other.

Years have passed since humanity’s destruction emerged from the Breach.

Friendless and alone he walks across a desolate, war-torn landscape.

As each day passes the world tumbles further into depravity, bent and twisted by the new order, corrupted by the Usurper, the enemy, and his infernal horde.

His purpose is to reach the Shining City, last bastion of the human race, and deliver the only weapon that may make a difference in the ongoing war.

What little hope remains is dying. Abandoned by its leader, The Seven, and its heroes, The Seraph Knights, the last defences of a once great civilisation are crumbling into dust.

But the Shining City is far away and the world is a very dangerous place.

I think someone may have given this a good review, which is why it’s on my wishlist, but either way it sounds right up my street! I’ve been severely lacking in any apocalyptic fiction recently and it’s my favourite genre! However, this book does have quite mixed reviews, so fingers crossed I like it.

Emperor of the Eight Islands by Lian Hearn | Historical Fantasy

An ambitious warlord leaves his nephew for dead and seizes his lands.

A stubborn father forces his younger son to surrender his wife to his older brother.

A mysterious woman seeks five fathers for her children.

A powerful priest meddles in the succession to the Lotus Throne.

These are the threads of an intricate tapestry in which the laws of destiny play out against a backdrop of wild forest, elegant court, and savage battlefield.

I started Lian Hearn’s YA series, Tales of the Otori, years ago, but I was in that phase of skipping through books, spoiling the ending for myself, and giving up, so I never got past Across the Nightingale Floor. However, I’ve always been a huge admirer of Japan and its culture, especially in my early teens, and I finally got to go there a few years ago! So, as you can imagine, Hearn’s books are just my kind of thing as they’re set in a mythical medieval Japan. I’m determined to finish her YA series and hopefully start this new adult series in the future.

Timekeeper by Tara Sim | YA Fantasy | Alternate History

Two o’clock was missing.

In an alternate Victorian world controlled by clock towers, a damaged clock can fracture time–and a destroyed one can stop it completely. It’s a truth that seventeen-year-old clock mechanic Danny Hart knows all too well; his father has been trapped in a Stopped town east of London for three years. Though Danny is a prodigy who can repair not only clockwork, but the very fabric of time, his fixation with staging a rescue is quickly becoming a concern to his superiors.

And so they assign him to Enfield, a town where the tower seems to be forever plagued with problems. Danny’s new apprentice both annoys and intrigues him, and though the boy is eager to work, he maintains a secretive distance. Danny soon discovers why: he is the tower’s clock spirit, a mythical being that oversees Enfield’s time. Though the boys are drawn together by their loneliness, Danny knows falling in love with a clock spirit is forbidden, and means risking everything he’s fought to achieve. But when a series of bombings at nearby towers threaten to Stop more cities, Danny must race to prevent Enfield from becoming the next target or he’ll not only lose his father, but the boy he loves, forever.

This sounds sooooooo gooooood. An alternate Victorian England where time can stop if the clocks do? LGBTQ+ rep? Sign me up!

Flashfall by Jenny Moyer | YA Sci-Fi

Orion is a Subpar, expected to mine the tunnels of Outpost Five, near the deadly flash curtain. For generations, her people have chased cirium the only element that can shield humanity from the curtain’s radioactive particles. She and her caving partner Dram work the most treacherous tunnel, fighting past flash bats and tunnel gulls, in hopes of mining enough cirium to earn their way into the protected city.

But when newcomers arrive at Outpost Five, Orion uncovers disturbing revelations that make her question everything she thought she knew about life on both sides of the cirium shield. As conditions at the outpost grow increasingly dangerous, it s up to Orion to forge a way past the flashfall, beyond all boundaries, beyond the world as she knows it.

This sounds like it has a big similarity with Red Rising, namely a mining community on another planet who are the lowest in society and are fed lies about what’s going on in the outside world. However, it seems that’s where the similarities stop. Hopefully this book holds its own and doesn’t turn into some half-hearted regurgitation of Red Rising but, either way, it sounds pretty good. (Released in the UK on 1st Dec).

Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova | YA Urban Fantasy

Alex is a bruja and the most powerful witch in her family. But she’s hated magic ever since it made her father disappear into thin air. So while most girls celebrate their Quinceañera, Alex prepares for Death Day the most important day in a bruja’s life, and her only opportunity to rid herself of magic.

But the curse she performs during the ceremony backfires and her family vanishes, forcing Alex to absorb all of the magic from her family line. Left alone, Alex seeks help from Nova, a brujo with ambitions of his own. To get her family back they must travel to Los Lagos, a land in- between, as dark as Limbo and as strange as Wonderland…

I’ve seen a lot of love for this so decided to add it to my wishlist. It sounds really intriguing (and diverse!) so I’m looking forward to buying this one.

And that’s it! What books have you added to your wishlist recently? Have you read any of these? Want to read them? Let me know in the comments below!

Diversity Spotlight Thursday #1

This is my first time participating in Diversity Spotlight Thursday, a meme created by Aimal @ Bookshelves and Paperbacks, and I think it’s a great idea. Each week you come up with a book for these three categories:

1. A diverse book you have read and enjoyed
2. A diverse book that has already been released but you have not yet read
3. A diverse book that has not yet been released

So this week, my books are:

1. A diverse book I have read and enjoyed: The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid

This was the very first novel I studied at university and it definitely got things off to a good start. It’s an amazing book, beautifully written, with twists and turns, truths and ambiguity, and an excellent protagonist.

It depicts the life of Changez, a Pakistani man who moves to America to study, hoping to make a better life for himself. Then 9/11 happens and, suddenly, the place Changez has always associated with freedom and riches shuns him. People no longer see a successful young man, but a potential terrorist.

It’s a really brilliant book and was also made into a film starring the excellent Riz Ahmed. He’s also been in some other great things centred around racism, such as the amazingly witty and sharp Four Lions, and is currently the star of US drama The Night Of. Definitely check the two films and the TV series out, they’re great.

2. A diverse book that has already been released but I haven’t yet read: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

This one is sitting in my TBR pile and I’m so excited to read it. From what I’ve heard, it deals with many diverse aspects, including race and disability. I’m not sure if it deals with any topics around sexuality so, if someone wants to enlighten me, please do! Just no spoilers!

3. A diverse book that has not yet been released: The Last Beginning by Lauren James

This is the sequel to The Next Together which I reviewed here. The sequel features a lesbian romance and I think different races too, but don’t quote me on that one. The first book wasn’t without a few faults, but it was still really enjoyable so I’m looking forward to finding out what happens next.

Have you read any of these books, or hoping to read them? Let me know in the comments below!

Stacking the Shelves | Fantasy & WW2 Lit | YA & Adult

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme from Tynga’s Reviews where you showcase the books you’ve received or purchased.

This week, I got four books, including my replacement book from The Willoughby Book Club after they sent me Red Rising which I already have! But they sent this replacement free of charge which is a really nice gesture. Of course I’d be in that 1% that receives a book they already have.

The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Vivian Versus the Apocalypse by Katie Coyle

All For Nothing by Walter Kempowski

Where My Heart Used to Beat by Sebastian Faulks

Vivian Versus the Apocalypse was my replacement from The Willoughby Book Club and it sounds really really good, a very interesting take on the ‘apocalypse’ genre.

I’ve heard a lot of good things about The Girl of Ink and Stars too. It’s meant to be a magical, fantastical read and sits somewhere between MG and YA.

Today my dad bought me WW2 novel All For Nothing and Sebastian Faulks’ new book Where My Heart Used to Beat. All For Nothing sounds like it’s going to be very tense so I’m excited to read it. I’ve also read a couple of Sebastian Faulks’ novels, including the amazing Birdsong, so I’m looking forward to seeing what his new installment is like.

Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them? What books have you got this week? Let me know in the comments below!

Review: The Little Red Chairs by Edna O’Brien

The Little Red Chairs by Edna O’Brien

Genre: Contemporary / Historical

Publisher:  Faber & Faber

My Rating: 4/5

Synopsis: When a man who calls himself a faith healer arrives in a small, west-coast Irish village, the community is soon under the spell of this charismatic stranger from the Balkans. One woman in particular, Fidelma McBride, becomes enthralled in a fatal attraction that leads to unimaginable consequences.

 

 

 

 

My Review

This book is a difficult one to rate and review for me. I originally picked it up for three reasons:

1. The cover is gorgeous
2. It had rave reviews from the critics
3. I wanted to get out of my comfort zone a little

This book certainly did get me out of my comfort zone, but I’m not sure it’s the “masterpiece” that many critics have called it. To me, a masterpiece is something like Virginia Woolf’s The Years. The scope and emotion in that book just blew me away. In fact, after studying Woolf on a whim at university, she has become my favourite novelist, and her books are definitely what I would describe as masterpieces. The Little Red Chairs, however, didn’t quite live up to the standards of literary greats like Woolf. There were actually similarities between this novel and Woolf’s style, but it just never quite reached “masterpiece” status.

Anyway, Woolf comparisons aside, let’s start with what I liked about this book:

It was an original and bleak story. The novel deals for the most part with refugees, particularly refugees of the Bosnian War, but also refugees as a whole. It was a really interesting study into the fear and isolation of asylum seekers, and resonates particularly with the current situation the world is in. People are fleeing Syria and surrounding countries in a desperate attempt to escape conflict, yet they are not being met with kindness and understanding in the places they seek asylum, but are met with hatred and disgust. O’Brien captures the fear and homesickness of refugees and paints them in a highly sympathetic light, which I really loved. We are told numerous stories of refugees who we only meet for a couple of pages, but all of their stories are important.

The writing is also very good. O’Brien is a long established writer, so she knows what she’s doing. However, the POV, whether it be 1st or 3rd person, often changed from chapter to chapter and it was a little jarring as I tried to figure out exactly what character I was currently dealing with. But overall, this made for an interesting perspective and curbed any potential monotony. Also, O’Brien writes excellent dialogue, so you really get a feel for the characters.

So what didn’t I like? A few things actually. Even though I gave this book 4/5, there are still a few things I didn’t really enjoy. For starters, there’s a fair bit of gore. Now, if you follow my blog, you’ll know that I have no problem with gore, and horror is one of my favourite genres. But a lot of the gore in this novel was unnecessary. I think it was just placed there for shock value. So instead of the gore being needed to move the story along, it was just a bit grotesque. I’ll give you a couple of examples:

“He wore an old brown leather glove that was usually kept on a shelf in the potting shed and thrusting it at her, he said, ‘Look, look.’ Then he opened it to reveal the ooze of a bat that he had squeezed to death…. he squashed it to death, blood and pus spewing out like slime, black and bloodied.”

“The driver missed his grip, swerved, then skidded, as the car sank into a hollow, where a sheep had gone to rest and was summarily pulped.”

Now, I’m not sure if it’s just me, or if it’s because I’m an animal lover, but both those descriptions seem unnecessary. I get that in the first passage the character is angry, so he took his frustration out on something else, but he could have taken it out on anything! I’ve never known a person to squeeze an animal to death, except for those sick animal abusers you see on the news. The instance with the sheep, however, didn’t fuel the story at all, it was just a small bit of description that I didn’t think was needed. Maybe it was to show the driver’s haste, but there’s many other ways you can show reckless driving without needing to talk about a sheep being pulped.

Maybe it’s just because I’m an animal lover, like I said, but this gore seemed unnecessary to me, and I’m not normally squeamish.

Another thing was the main character, Fidelma, wasn’t overly likeable, but I’m not sure if she was meant to be. I certainly felt sympathy for her, but I didn’t feel much of an attachment. She was a woman who had made some silly mistakes and had been selfish. I sympathised with her plight, but didn’t deeply care for her.

Overall, it was a well written novel and definitely deserves some of the praise it got. It was an interesting story, with an excellent take on the struggle refugees face. I do recommend it, but I wouldn’t say to expect a “masterpiece”.

Have you read any of Edna O’Brien’s other novels? Would you read this book? What do you think of the gore I described? Let me know in the comments below!

Let’s Wrap: July

July has been pretty good! I graduated from university, attended YALC last weekend, and got my first ever physical ARCs! Thanks to everyone who’s followed me this month, I’m now at 141 followers overall through Wordpress, e-mail and Bloglovin! I’ve only been running this blog since March so I am really thankful that it’s grown so quickly. I’m loving every minute of it and hopefully this blog keeps growing!

Now, onto my July wrap-up.

This Month’s Posts

• Book Recommendations: If You Liked That, You’ll Love This #3
• Waiting On Wednesday: Goldenhand by Garth Nix
• Stacking the Shelves | Fantasy and Sci-Fi | YA & Adult
• Review: The Girls by Emma Cline
• The Sunday Post #7
• Exciting News: I’m Attending YALC! Are You?
• Golden Son Book Review Now Live!
• Waiting On Wednesday: A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess
• Review: The Next Together by Lauren James
• The Sunday Post #8
• The Diversity Test Book Tag
• Review: Nod by Adrian Barnes
• Waiting On Wednesday: Bright Smoke, Cold Fire by Rosamund Hodge
• Review: Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
• The Sunday Post #9
• Top 10 Openings in YA
• Waiting On Wednesday: A Closed and Common Orbit (Wayfarers 2) by Becky Chambers
• Day 1 YALC | Fantasy and Freebies
• Day 2 YALC | Sci-Fi and Horror
• Day 3 YALC | ARCs and Advice

Favourite Novels This Month

Least Favourite Novels This Month

Coming Up

Thanks to YALC, I’ve got a lot of new books this month, including ARCs of Goldenhand by Garth Nix, Gilded Cage by Vic James, and Girl Detached by Manuela Salvi. I was planning on reviewing these a little closer to their release dates, but if there’s one you really want to see a review for then let me know! I’m not sure if I’ll be able to keep away from Goldenhand!

I also got tagged three times this month! It’s lovely to be picked for a tag and I’m sorry I haven’t done them yet, I just haven’t had time to sit down and really think about them. So I will try and get through those soon.

I’m a little behind on my reading due to visiting my boyfriend and YALC, but hopefully I’ll finish The Little Red Chairs by Edna O’Brien soon. It’s an interesting book, but it changes POV quite randomly with no explanation and I’m not sure how I feel about that.

And lastly, I have other posts planned to surprise you all with, so look out for those.

How has your July been? Did you attend YALC? Any preferences on an ARC I should read first? Let me know in the comments below!