Dear Charlie - Review

Dear Charlie by N.D. Gomes

What they say: Death should never meet the young. But it did. Thanks to my brother, death made fourteen new friends that day. Maybe even fifteen, if you count Charlie.

At sixteen, Sam Macmillan is supposed to be thinking about girls, homework and his upcoming application to music college, not picking up the pieces after the school shooting that his brother Charlie committed.

Yet as Sam desperately tries to hang on to the memories he has of his brother, the media storm surrounding their family threatens to destroy everything. And Sam has to question all he thought he knew about life, death, right and wrong.

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UK

Releases 20th Oct by HQ/Mira Ink

I received a copy from HQ at YALC in exchange for an honest review

What I say: I've never really given much thought to those left behind after an act of terrible violence so Dear Charlie is a real eyeopener! The story focuses on Sam. Sam's brother, Charlie killed a lot of people in a high school shooting before killing himself. Charlie ruined the lives of many people in their small town and Sam is left to face the outrage.

As  Sam and his parents struggles to accept Charlie's crimes. We see them battle the rage of other students and families of those murdered by his brother. The story is really sad because we know from the start what has happened but we see his disbelief, anger and heartbreak. Why did Charlie do this? How could he not have known? Why do people blame him and how can he move on? Will his parents ever sort themselves out?

The topic is pretty controversial and although I was never entirely comfortable with it, I think this is a good thing because violence should never be comfortable. 

Sam is pretty closed off and I did find it difficult to understand him at times, but again I felt as though this was intentional. The tone is awkward, Sam is unsettled and the town will never forget. 

The setting isn't America as might be expected with a school shooting but instead is in the UK. I knew straight away where Gomes was writing about which made for an interesting and upsetting change for me as a Brit but I'll remember the story and Sam's voice... 

3.5 - 4 Stars in my Sky!

The Deviants - Tour & Review

The Deviants by CJ Skuse

What they say: When you set out for revenge, dig two graves

Growing up in the sleepy English seaside town of Brynston, the fearless five – Ella, Max, Corey, Fallon and Zane – were always inseparable. Living up to their nickname, they were the adventurous, rowdy kids who lived for ghost stories and exploring the nearby islands off the coast. But when Max’s beloved older sister Jessica is killed, the friendship seems to die with her.

Now years later, only Max and Ella are in touch; still best friends and a couple since they were thirteen. Their lives are so intertwined Max’s dad even sponsors Ella’s training for the Commonwealth Games. But Ella is hiding things. Like why she hates going to Max’s house for Sunday dinner, and flinches whenever his family are near. Or the real reason she’s afraid to take their relationship to the next level.

When underdog Corey is bullied, the fearless five are brought back together again, teaming up to wreak havoc and revenge on those who have wronged them. But when the secrets they are keeping can no longer be kept quiet, will their fearlessness be enough to save them from themselves?

Buy links:

Amazon UK * Amazon US

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I received a copy from HQ Young Adult in exchange for an honest review!

What I say: I find it ridiculously intriguing when I discover a book with really contrasting early reviews. This instantly makes me want make up my own mind to see who I agree with or not.

The Deviants is extremely raw and emotional. Although there are a few early hints about whats to come, I wasn't entirely prepared for the onslaught of feels headed my way. I was expecting the usual YA teen drama and angst, but CJ Skuse delivers so much more.

I was intrigued by Ella and wanted to know what she was hiding. It took me a while to decide whether Max was a good guy. I really liked Corey who always made me smile and Fallon reminded me of my teenage best friend (I can't tell you why as it's a spoiler). I think we've all experienced a Zane in some form or another, but it was the mystery surrounding Jessica that had me fascinated from the start. 

The book covers some pretty dark issues so I'm going to label with one with a trigger warning. These issues are covered in a really sensitive manner and I found myself crying along with them after certain revelations.

The tone is intensionally almost awkward in parts. There's a purposeful disconnect with certain characters but as the story develops it becomes clear why. I never felt entirely comfortable with all the characters but I really didn't feel as though I was supposed to. I felt the distance and nostalgia surrounding the fearless five. I'm sure a lot of readers will empathise with how difficult it is when friendship groups change as we grow up. In this sense it's a real coming of age story, except it's far from typical.

4.5 Stars in my Sky!

Author Spotlight:

C.J. Skuse was born in 1980 in Westonsuper-Mare, England. She has First Class degrees in Creative Writing and Writing for Children and, aside from writing novels, works as a freelance children’s fiction consultant and lectures in Writing for Children at Bath Spa University. C.J. loves Masterchef, Gummy Bears and murder sites. Before she dies, she would like to go to Japan, try clay-pigeon shooting and have Ryan Gosling present her with the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. 

Find CJ on Twitter!

As I Descended - Tour & Review

As I Descended by Robin Talley

What they say: Amnesty Honour winner Robin Talley is back with a Shakespeare-inspired story of revenge and redemption, where fair is foul, and foul is fair.

Maria Lyon and Lily Boiten are their school’s ultimate power couple―but one thing stands between them and their perfect future: campus superstar Delilah Dufrey. Golden child Delilah is a legend at exclusive Acheron Academy, and the presumptive winner of the distinguished Cawdor Kingsley Prize. But Delilah doesn’t know that Lily and Maria are willing to do anything―absolutely anything―to unseat Delilah for the scholarship. After all, it would lock in Maria’s attendance at Stanford―and assure her and Lily four more years in a shared dorm room.

Together, Maria and Lily harness the dark power long rumored to be present on the former plantation that houses their school. But when feuds turn to fatalities, and madness begins to blur the distinction between what’s real and what’s imagined, the girls must attempt to put a stop to the chilling series of events they’ve accidentally set in motion.

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Buy links: Amazon

I received a copy from the publisher (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review!

What I say: As I Descended (love the title) is a reimagined YA LGBT version of Macbeth. Instead of Scottish castles we get a female Macbeth, Maria, and her girlfriend Lady Macbeth aka Lily as they try to win the ultimate prize at their American boarding school.
I'm going to keep this as spoiler free as possible. Maria desperately wants to win the 'Prize' but only Delilah stands in her way. The story is dark for a YA retelling, like really dark, but this helps keep the Macbeth feel to the story. 
Robin Talley does a wonderful job tackling the competitive spirit of the girls and their classmates, but more importantly she really goes for it in terms of diversity. Diversity is something we don't always see enough of in YA stories. Not only do we see an honest look at a teenage lesbian relationship, Talley provides a close analysis of sexism, racism, homophobia and classicism.
Maria and Lily start off looking for a way to enhance Maria's chances of winning but end up in the realms of "that escalated quickly!" But baring in mind this is a retelling of Macbeth I wasn't exactly expecting the story to end well for everyone. I'll leave you to discover exactly what happens in this clever, spooky reimagining. I did question the motivation for events at times but it works in a Pretty Little Liars or Gossip Girl kinda way and serves as a warning against the pitfalls of jealousy and an overly completion environment for teens. 
4 Stars in my Sky!

Author Spotlight:

Robin Talley grew up in Roanoke, Virginia, writing terrible teen poetry and riding a desegregation bus to the school across town. Robin lives in Washington, D.C., with her fiancée, plus an antisocial cat and a goofy hound dog. When Robin’s not writing, she’s often planning communication strategies at organizations fighting for equal rights and social justice. You can find her on the web here or on Twitter.

@HQYoungAdult

@robin_talley

#AsIDescended

The Flame Never Dies - Tour & Review

 

The Flame Never Dies by Rachel Vincent

What they say: For fans of Cassandra Clare and Richelle Mead comes the unputdownable sequel to The Stars Never Rise, a book Rachel Caine, author of the bestselling Morganville Vampires series, called “haunting, unsettling, and eerily beautiful.” 
ONE SPARK WILL RISE. Nina Kane was born to be an exorcist. And since uncovering the horrifying truth—that the war against demons is far from over—seventeen-year-old Nina and her pregnant younger sister, Mellie, have been on the run, incinerating the remains of the demon horde as they go. 

In the badlands, Nina, Mellie, and Finn, the fugitive and rogue exorcist who saved her life, find allies in a group of freedom fighters. They also face a new threat: Pandemonia, a city full of demons. But this fresh new hell is the least of Nina’s worries. The well of souls ran dry more than a century ago, drained by the demons secretly living among humans, and without a donor soul, Mellie’s child will die within hours of its birth.

Nina isn’t about to let that happen... even if it means she has to make the ultimate sacrifice.

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Buy The Flame Never Dies:

Amazon UK * Amazon US

I was offered a review copy but had already purchased an ARC at YALC this year!

What I say: I loved The Stars Never Rise (review here) but was slightly concerned that The Flame Never Dies may not live up to my high expectations but I loved it just as much. 

The story again focuses on Nina as she faces a two pronged attack from both the Church and the horrifying Demons who are far more widespread than ever. 

What I particularly enjoyed was the character development and not just with Nina. Nina is constantly evolving. She's moved on so much from the law abiding, rule following (mostly) good girl we first met and is becoming a warrior *ahem* exorcist!  Don't worry she's not all Xena Warrior Princes because is still the same slightly reserved girl - as demonstrated by her embarrassment at PDAs. I loved her! Oh Finn! I was pleasantly surprised about his story and we get a lot of answers about his situation and bond with Maddy (no spoilers here).

In a genre often full of repetition and cliches I can honestly say I really didn't see a lot of the events coming. I never found myself questioning their actions as so often happens in YA stories. I can't really go into more detail because it's too spoilery - I wouldn't want to spoil any of the drama and action for you.

The romance is honest and never feels forced. Rachel Vincent does a fantastic job portraying the beauty and drama of first love. We see jealousy, self doubt, devotion and kissing as well as flirty banter and arguments.

I'm honestly not entirely sure if the series is done after the duo-logy because I'd love more story. BUT I appreciated the ending and of course the build-up to THAT conclusion.

4.5 Stars in my Sky!

Book one:

Sixteen-year-old Nina Kane should be worrying about her immortal soul, but she's too busy trying to actually survive. Her town's population has been decimated by soul-consuming demons, and souls are in short supply. Watching over her younger sister, Mellie, and scraping together food and money are all that matters. The two of them are a family. They gave up on their deadbeat mom a long time ago.

When Nina discovers that Mellie is keeping a secret that threatens their very existence, she'll do anything to protect her. Because in New Temperance, sins are prosecuted as crimes by the brutal Church and its army of black-robed exorcists. And Mellie's sin has put her in serious trouble.

To keep them both alive, Nina will need to trust Finn, a fugitive with deep green eyes who has already saved her life once and who might just be an exorcist. But what kind of exorcist wears a hoodie?

Wanted by the Church and hunted by dark forces, Nina knows she can't survive on her own. She needs Finn and his group of rogue friends just as much as they need her. 

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Buy links:

Amazon UK * Amazon US

Author Spotlight:

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Vincent loves good chocolate, comfortable jeans, and serial commas. Rachel is the author of the SOUL SCREAMERS series and can be found online: 

Website * Blog * Twitter * Goodreads

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