The Scarecrow Queen - Melinda Salisbury

Began reading: 12.9.2017
Completed reading: 27.9.2017
Overall rating: 4 stars

Dawn will rise.

With Errin a prisoner in Lormere, and Twylla powerless and on the run, time is running out for the ragged band of rebels trying desperately to prevent the Sleeping Prince from destroying everything they love.

But Aurek will stop at nothing to keep the throne forever...

The Scarecrow Queen by Melinda Salisbury is a fictional young adult novel that contains fantasy. I’ve been looking for this book since it was published, and I’m glad that I found it in the library! Overall, it was enjoyable but I wasn’t hooked the whole way through. It was a decent conclusion to the trilogy, which was what I was hoping for.

The Sleeping Prince has taken over Lormere, trapping Errin and Merek inside while Twylla is forced to flee. Stumbling across a camp of displaced civilians, Twylla is forced to prove that she can be trusted and make a good leader in the revolution. Her position as leader is challenged multiple times when she comes face to face with Lief – the man she once loved. His behaviour constantly changes, making everyone question which side he’s truly on. Errin faces similar obstacles – with Lief’s return to the castle, can she trust him? The constant threat of death from Sleeping Prince enables Errin to work on an escape with Merek, but when she learns about Silas’ deteriorating health and her mother’s near-death experience, she has to make one of the toughest choices in her life – should she stay or go?

The book was well-written, with the exception of a few spelling and grammatical errors, but the structure was clearly defined. There was a range of literary techniques that enhanced the narrative experience, including point of view, suspense and tragedy. There were also a couple of great quotes, including:

‘You do what you have to, to fit in with where you are’ (p. 25).

‘[…]loyalty born out of fear might not be loyalty at all’ (p. 266).

More quotes from the book can be found here.

The books that I have read recently have not had much to do with adventure, so reading this novel felt rather exciting. I wasn’t really expecting there to be any kind of adventure, especially as the plot appeared to centre on the epic final battle with Aurek. I was pleasantly surprised when Twylla and Errin encountered adventures and little missions. For example, Twylla’s travelling and her operations with painting the walls were full of trepidation and exhilaration. The map at the beginning of the book was helpful, but would have been better if it was a little more detailed. It helped with the imagery, which was great.

                                

A range of characters is always something that keeps me fascinated with the story. I love how each character contributes to the narrative in some way, and their personalities are always interesting. This has appeared in every book of this trilogy, so I wasn’t surprised to see it in this book. There was a combination of familiar and new faces, which added to the overall intrigue. The way in which they provided Twylla with challenges to win them over was clever, and reading about how Twylla interacted with each of the individual characters was interesting.

One of the literary techniques that I mentioned earlier was suspense, and this was applied through plot twists. I have come to the conclusion that Salisbury is adept at creating good plot twists. In the past, she has incorporated a variety of predictable and unpredictable surprises, and the same goes for this novel. The twists in this narrative were unexpected but, at the same time, felt right. Ever since Lief abandoned Twylla, I wondered which side he was on. Although it was  little predictable, I was still shocked when I read the revelation. The same goes for Twylla and Merek, so I was pleased with the twists and turns in the book. I’m excited for more of Salisbury’s books because of this.

                                                   

Speaking of plot twists, I was surprised with what happened between Twylla and Merek. There wasn’t really much overt romance throughout the book, but I’m not complaining about that. It was obvious that Salisbury was hinting at what could happen between Twylla and Merek, especially as their relationship started to develop earlier in the book. I would have liked to have read more about Errin and Silas’ relationship, especially when you take into account what happens at the end of the book. It was a happy ending, but it was sudden – it would have been better if they have more interaction earlier in the narrative.

After reading the previous two books and the blurb for this one, I assumed that the plot would focus on the final battle with Aurek. Of course, it was the over-arching storyline, but the actual fight itself was rushed. The series was building up to the epic fight, but it was underwhelming. It was disappointing because it didn’t last very long, and the continuation of it back at the castle was lacklustre because defeating Aurek was too easy. I was hoping for a bit more of a challenge, so I was let down.

                   

My favourite character is Twylla because she was fierce, compassionate, loyal, confident and honest. I enjoyed reading about how she had to figure out what she wanted – it was interesting. I’m going to miss her character because she was really badass!

I was shocked by a particular betrayal because this character was someone I had mixed feelings about, but I didn’t see her disloyalty coming. In the end, I’m glad that she got what was coming to her.

My favourite parts of the novel were the moments between Twylla and Merek, and the conclusion. I enjoyed reading about Twylla and Merek because I always expected that Twylla had friend-zoned him. Watching them get closer in this novel was unexpected but exciting. The conclusion was sweet and promising – it was sweet because Twylla and Merek (duh!), but it also held hope for the potential that Twylla has to improve the country. I wished I could read about her achievements!

Recommendation time! If you like the War of the Princes series by A.R. Ivanovich, The Black North by Nigel McDowell, and Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige, you will love this book. Also, I recommend this book to anyone who likes the Harry Potter series, Reign tv series, Game of Thrones tv series, and Black Death.

My reviews for The Sin Eater’s Daughter and The Sleeping Prince can be found by clicking on the titles.

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The Drowning King - Emily Holleman

Began reading: 6.9.2017
Completed reading: 11.9.2017
Overall rating: 4 stars

As the Romans steal power from the throne, a crucial decision will determine the course of history.

Cleopatra and her younger brother Ptolemy are established on the throne. Long overlooked by his father in favour of the beguiling Cleopatra, eleven-year-old Ptolemy is desperate to assert himself as a man and a king – but he and his advisors are no match for Queen Cleopatra.

Yet when Cleopatra alienates Rome’s remaining legions and flees the palace, Ptolemy finally gets his first taste of power. As Cleopatra joins forces with her sister, Arsinoe, Ptolemy must prepare to prove his ruthlessness to Caesar.

Arsinoe doubts where her sister’s loyalties lie, and when news comes that Cleopatra has manipulated Caesar to regain the throne, she is torn between her warring siblings. She must choose whether it will be her sister or brother she betrays and which side to take – a decision that will determine the fate of a kingdom…

The Drowning King by Emily Holleman is a historical fiction novel that explores the lives of royalty in ancient Egypt. I have been dying to get my hands on this novel ever since I discovered that my library holds a copy. It took such a long time to borrow it because so many people kept getting it before me. But FINALLY I can say that I have read it, and I wasn’t disappointed!

Following the death of Ptolemy XII Auletes, his three eldest children Cleopatra, Arsinoe and Ptolemy XIII are thrown in the deep end of political intrigue. As they are forced to work together, they will each develop a taste of power and begin craving more. Noticing the growing tension between Alexandrians and Romans, Cleopatra plans to flee the palace and bring Arsinoe with her. Gathering troops, the royal sisters will need to work together to overthrow their weak younger brother; their plans are jumbled when Arsinoe is abandoned by Cleopatra yet again, only to find that her sister is siding with the Romans – seducing Julius Caesar. Ptolemy struggles with the sudden authority he possesses and has difficulties with exercising his power. This will become almost impossible when Cleopatra returns and stages a coup for the throne. Meanwhile, Arsinoe has learned that she will never sit on the throne, but when she’s caught between her siblings and the looming threat that Rome holds, she will be forced to choose a side or risk her life to obtain what was always out of her reach.

The book was well-written, as expected. In my opinion, there is one word to describe Holleman’s writing style: eloquent. I loved her writing in Cleopatra’s Shadows, and I was grateful that it hadn’t changed in this text. The use of literary techniques including foreshadowing, point of view and suspense assisted with the flow of the narrative and added depth. There were also a couple of great quotes, including:

‘When a king falls ill, his kingdom falls ill with him’ (p. 12).

The greatest victories come when our enemies least expect them (p. 82).

She’d spoken their victory into being, like the native gods of old, and baptised it in blood (p. 368).

I mentioned in my review for Cleopatra’s Shadows that I thought the plot was interesting and unique, and I stand by what I said. I’m a huge fan of historical fiction, and ancient Egypt has always been a fascinating topic for me (I fell in love when I had to do an assignment on it back when I was 13). In high school, I chose to study ancient history and I loved every minute of it. Anyway, my point is that I was able to apply my knowledge of ancient Egypt and the Romans to what I was reading, and I was addicted. I loved the re-telling because we got more of an insight into Cleopatra’s reign from the eyes of two lesser-known characters. There isn’t much to know about Arsinoe (I learned about her from Horrible Histories), so I enjoyed learning more about her (even if it is fictional).

                    

Another aspect of writing that Holleman utilised in her previous book that appeared in this one was the uncertainty of characters’ fates in the form of plot twists. I mentioned in the review for the first book that the uncertainty was very creative – something that not a lot of writers think to incorporate. I could see that the plot twists reflected the unpredictability of Egyptian rule, especially in terms of the crown. For example, Cleopatra’s and Ptolemy’s abandoning and returning to the throne was unpredictable, similar to how their siblings fought to reign. Like I said, I thought this tactic was clever and I hope to see more of this in Holleman’s future works.

I firmly believe that Holleman is one of the best writers when it comes to styling a conclusion. Both perspectives ended in an intriguing way, just like Arsinoe’s and Berenice’s in the previous novel. In this book, Arsinoe’s conclusion hinted at foreshadowing, particularly her death. There is a claim that Arsinoe was murdered by Marc Antony, under Cleopatra’s orders. With this in mind, the final line in Arsinoe’s perspective states:

She could no longer tell which was friend and which was foe (p. 400),

which I think is foreboding and a look into what’s to come. I thought that Ptolemy’s conclusion was vivid and bittersweet – bittersweet because he always seemed to feel like a disappointment, but at the same time he would never feel like that again. I don’t know if there will be a third book, but if there is then I’m so excited to see how Holleman concludes Arsinoe’s life.

                      

There were numerous characters in this novel, and I was super excited when each other them had their own unique personalities and their own flaws. Each character had a motive to claim the throne, or work their way as close to it as possible, which was intriguing. Their flaws made them stand out amongst each other, especially Ptolemy siblings’ flaws – their hunger for power ultimately brought about their demise. I enjoyed seeing how they negotiated and battled each other for the throne, so their flaws made their characters and the plot line enhanced my fascination.

I only had one minor issue with this incredible book, and that was that it was a little repetitive. I understand that Ptolemy was trying to prove that he can be a man and a good king, but he felt like a weakling and his constant “I’m such a good king but Arsinoe will do all the work for me” thing irritated me. I was constantly thinking, “sorry hon, but Arsinoe ain’t doin’ this for you because SHE DON’T LOVE YOU”. The repetitive nature of going to war also felt tedious, but that was historically accurate so I’ll let that slide.

My favourite character is still Arsinoe because she was loyal, wise, clever and determined.  She stayed loyal to Egypt, despite her sister’s growing attraction to Rome. I might not have agreed with her hunger for power, but her reasons for wanting the throne were justifiable.

                   

I didn’t like Cleopatra and her growing weakness for Rome. I found this interesting because she’s always portrayed as a compassionate but beguiling woman, so I thought that her representation in the novel was refreshing. While I’m glad that Arsinoe and Alexander finally did it, I was irritated with Alexander for constantly pressuring Arsinoe. I wasn’t sure if he was truly in love with her or if he just wanted to known as the queen’s consort, but he really frustrated me.

My favourite part of the novel was Arsinoe’s break from Cleopatra because she was finally able to establish herself as a confident and independent Ptolemy. I thought that it was a long time coming, but it demonstrated her loyalty to her people, which is admirable.

Recommendation time! If you like Daughter of the Gods: A Novel of Ancient Egypt by Stephanie Thornton, The Empress of Rome series by Kate Quinn, and the Numinous World series by Jo Graham, you will love this book. Also, I recommend this book to anyone who likes Exodus: Gods and Kings, Cleopatra, Agora and Pompeii.

My review for Cleopatra’s Shadows can be found by clicking on the title.

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King's Cage - Victoria Aveyard

Began reading: 29.8.2017
Completed reading: 6.9.2017
Overall rating: 4 stars

Who will light the way for the rebellion?

Mare Barrow is a prisoner, powerless without her lightning, tormented by her mistakes. She lives at the mercy of a boy she once loved, a boy made of lies and betrayal.

Now a king, Maven continues weaving his web in an attempt to maintain control over his country – and his prisoner.

While Mare remains trapped in the palace, the remnants of the Red Rebellion continue organising and expanding. As they prepare for war, no longer able to linger in the shadows, Cal – the exiled prince with his own claim on Mare’s heart – will stop at nothing to bring her back.

King’s Cage by Victoria Aveyard is a young adult novel that contains fantasy, science fiction and romance. Why did I put off reading this novel for so long?! I can’t think of a good excuse, and I’m kicking myself for not reading it sooner. It was great, and I’m dying to know what happens next!

After giving herself up to Maven in order to save her friends, Mare has been trying to find a way to escape. With Silent Stone, constant guard supervision and a king who is still in love with her, Mare will find that exercising the smallest amount of power is almost impossible. Maven, struggling with trying to separate his thoughts from his mother’s, is also attempting to wield power over his subjects and Mare; but he will soon discover that showing the slightest weakness will cause people to turn against him. The growing tension in Norta triggers various houses to abandon Maven; their next moves will shock everyone, including the Scarlet Guard. Cal knows that he must rescue Mare from his brother, but with so many people supporting his return to the throne, he will be forced to choose between love and power. Does Mare have it in her to keep Cal by her side?

As expected, the book was well-written, especially in regard to the pace and structure. The utilisation of literary techniques was commendable and assisted with adding depth and detail to the narrative. For example, the use of personification, theme and point of view allowed me to fully comprehend the emotion and tension that Aveyard was trying to convey. There were also some great quotes, including:

I wonder what hurts more – to hear nothing of your children, knowing they are in danger, or to be fed news of their pain piece by piece (p. 51).

‘A king without supporters is no king at all’ (p. 107).

[…]monsters are most dangerous when they’re afraid (p. 144).

‘[…]she always said it was better to be heartbroken. The pain makes you stronger. Love makes you weak’ (p. 169).

He caught me back then, ensnaring me in a prince’s trap. Now I’m in a king’s cage. But so is he. My chains are Silent Stone. His is the crown (p. 171).

What is he doing? What is he planning?

To find out, I must fly as close to the flame as I dare (p. 196).

‘Those who know what it’s like in the dark will do anything to stay in the light’ (p. 279).

Kings are not known for their kindness or their compassion (p. 330).

Power seduces all, and it makes us blind (p. 501).

More quotes from the book can be found here.

I have reached the conclusion that NONE of Aveyard’s novels has a dull plot. There is at least one interesting aspect in each of her books, and this one is no different. I thought the over-arching plot was very interesting, in particular reading about how Mare survived as Maven’s prisoner. Learning about how she spent her days, as well as getting insight into her thoughts made the narrative intriguing. I also enjoyed reading the sub-plots because they were just as significant and fascinating as the primary plot line. I’m very excited to read the next book! I wonder what plot lines will be in that one.

                      

I love when a book has various perspectives because I get to see things from another set of eyes, as opposed to a one-sided story. This novel contained three different perspectives, and one in particular had me hooked – Evangeline’s. Since the first book, I had been interested in Evangeline because she was that character that I loved to hate. She was (is) opposed to Mare, but I don’t think that either of them realises just how much they have in common. As always, I enjoyed Mare’s perspective but I wasn’t much of a fan of Cameron’s, and I’ll explain why further down.

Another aspect of writing that Aveyard has a knack for is creating good plot twists. I’ve said time and again that a decent plot twist doesn’t have to be unpredictable, but it has to make sense. The twists in this book were a combination of predictable and unpredictable but they were dramatic and emotional, which is what I want to see. For example, Cal’s ultimate decision had me shook! Some twists I was able to see for a while, but the unpredictable ones had me reeling and I’m still trying to recover. The plot twists made the narrative suspenseful and flow with ease.

                   

Consistency is something that a few writers have difficulties with, especially in regard to their characters – this is especially true when a character is meant to undergo a transformation. Aveyard has managed to maintain consistency, with emphasis on Mare’s character. From the beginning, Mare has been a badass and feisty femme fatale and this hasn’t changed, despite the hardships she has experienced. While we’re discussing characters, depth was something that I noticed in this book. I loved reading the back stories of each of the characters, especially the ones I liked. I particularly enjoyed being able to see what has made the characters who they are in the present.  

I mentioned earlier that I liked the multiple perspectives because they provide insight into how others perceive a particular situation. I have also said that I enjoyed the perspectives in this novel; however, I didn’t really like Cameron’s point of view. I can see that it was meant to provide us with insight into what the Scarlet Guard was up to, but Cameron’s perspective was dull – informative, but dull. She wanted to rescue her brother, but it was monotonous and uneventful.

My favourite character remains to be Mare, as she is compassionate, strong, confident, and a badass. She also has her flaws, which adds to her likeability. Evangeline is a notable character, especially because she was so unexpected – her background was unpredictable, and I can see why she is the way she is. I’m looking forward to seeing her and Mare interact more in the next book!

I have always been #TeamCal, but his attitude in this novel had me doubting. I love that he’s so compassionate, but at the same time he needs to grow a backbone and stop being so indecisive. In the end, I’m glad he made a decision and I understand the reasons behind his choice. Even though I love Cal, Maven’s behaviour towards Mare in this book was significantly intimate and I found myself hoping that something would happen between them. It could have been some kind of manipulation, but I like Mare and Maven together now.

                                           

*WARNING: SPOILER* My favourite parts of the novel were the bathroom scene, and Mare’s escape. The bathroom scene between Mare and Maven was steamy (pun intended), and this was where I was hoping there would be some action (I’m a little devastated that there wasn’t any). I also enjoyed Mare’s escape because it was satisfying and dramatic.

Recommendation time! If you like The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, The Sin Eater’s Daughter by Melinda Salisbury, The Winner’s Curse series by Marie Rutkoski, Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas, or Matched series by Ally Condie, you will love this book. Also, I recommend this book to anyone who likes the X-Men and Harry Potter series.

My review for CruelCrown, Red Queen, and Glass Sword can be found by clicking on the titles.

I will also be reviewing the rest of the Red Queen series when the final book becomes available. Keep an eye out for that!

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One Of Us Is Lying - Karen M. McManus

Began reading: 23.8.2017
Completed reading: 29.8.2017
Overall rating: 4 stars

Five students walk into detention.

Only four leave alive.

Yale hopeful Bronwyn has never publicly broken a rule.

Sports star Cooper only knows what he's doing in the baseball diamond.

Bad boy Nate is one misstep away from a life of crime.

Prom queen Addy is holding together the cracks in her perfect life.

And outsider Simon, creator of the notorious gossip app at Bayview High, won't ever talk about any of them again.

He dies 24 hours before he could post their deepest secrets online. Investigators conclude it's no accident. All of them are suspects.

Everyone has secrets, right?

What really matters is how far you'll go to protect them.

Trigger warning: this book contains alcoholism and drug references.

One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus is a contemporary young adult novel that contains mystery and thriller themes. I have been so excited to get into this book! It was pretty good, and I loved how I was hooked from the very first page. Let’s discuss this book!

Being sent to detention for something that no one was guilty of, five students from Bayview High are somehow involved in a mystery murder – one of their fellow students suffers a severe anaphylactic reaction, which later kills him. The remaining four students are thrown into an extensive investigation, especially when the police discover that each student has a secret worth killing to keep hidden. The students are forced to work together to determine how someone managed to die when no one from outside entered the room, as well as who is responsible. Tensions rise when the media gets involved and word spreads across the school, causing everyone to turn against the ‘Bayview Four’. The student will have to learn to stay strong as their secrets are laid bare for their classmates and the media to warp, but when they realise who is responsible for the murder, they will have bigger problems to worry about.

The book was well-written, in particular the pacing – it was fast, which matched the atmosphere of the plot. The various literary techniques that appeared in the book added detail to the narrative, especially the use of flashbacks, foreshadowing and point of view. There were also a couple of great quotes thrown in, including:

[…]if you say no too much, pretty soon someone else will say yes (pp. 45-46).

When the whole school’s starting to turn against you, you need somebody on your side (p. 138).

More quotes from the novel can be found here.

As I briefly mentioned above, the use of point of view to increase intrigue in the novel was notable. The book was separated by different sections, but also by the points of view by the four protagonists. This enhanced the story because we got insight into how each of the characters reacted to the news of Simon’s death, as well as what they thought of their secrets being revealed. Each protagonist had unique experiences prior to the detention that involved Simon in some way. This amplified the mystery because each of the characters were set up to look guilty in some way. This aspect of the novel was executed with meticulousness, which was the main reason why I enjoyed this book.

                   

The primary reason why I read mystery novels is because their plots promise an interesting and shocking narrative. I have to know what happens and the reasons behind the mystery. Of course, the blurb of this book had me eager to read it immediately. It was intriguing, full of suspense and provided opportunities for a range of sub-plots. While the main plot remained the over-arching storyline, there were a few minor plotlines that added depth to the book. 

I’ve said it numerous times, but I was fascinated with the plot before I even purchased it. For a debut novel, I think that this novel was almost perfectly designed, with a lot of attention to detail.

I like a good surprise, and McManus didn’t disappoint – two almost-forbidden romances were something that I didn’t see coming, but did not disagree with. Although I dislike fluffy romances, this novel did not exaggerate the romance, nor did it feel out of place. There was a decent amount of romance, which suited me. I hate when romance overpowers the storyline – that makes me sound grouchy, but big romances aren’t my thing. I was worried about the good-girl-falls-for-bad-boy cliché, but it turned out fine. The relationships felt justified and realistic, which is a testament to McManus’ writing skills.

                                            

Speaking of surprise, the plot twists in this book were a mixture of predictable and unpredictable, which is what I love! I had a feeling that the ultimate plot twist (Simon’s death) was predictable, but I enjoyed being suspicious of almost every character as they were introduced – I thought it would be the teacher! Furthermore, discovering who was behind the blog posts was an unpredictable shock, but made sense in the end. Despite being able to predict some of the twists, I still enjoyed the novel.

I had only one minor issue with this book, but at the same time it felt relevant to the narrative. There were some moments in the book that felt dumb, which made the scene somewhat laughable. For example, the moment when Addy’s phone went off felt silly – it was either unrealistic or she just had sh*tty luck; I’m gonna go with the former reason. Another example was the way in which the police handled the investigation – it was definitely unrealistic and frustrating. Like I said, it was only a minor issue so it didn’t really impact on my overall rating.

My favourite character is Bronwyn because she was protective of her younger sister (just like me), ambitious, rebellious, studious and responsible. Out of all the characters in the book, I related to Bronwyn the most. I really liked how she was with Nate, and I was relieved when they decided to get together.

                              

I didn’t like how the popular group handled the situation. I wonder if it’s an accurate representation of that clique group. I thought that their behaviour helped bring the four protagonists together, so I don’t hate what they did – I just didn’t like that they turned against their friends.

My favourite part of the novel was the conclusion because it was sweet, swoon-worthy, and provided closure. I liked that it didn’t feel completely finished; instead, it left enough to the imagination.

Recommendation time! If you like The Perfectionists series by Sara Shepard, The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee, and the Wicked Games series by Sean Olin, you will love this book. Also, I recommend this book to anyone who likes How To Get Away With Murder tv series, Pretty Little Liars tv series, The Breakfast Club, and St. Elmo’s Fire.

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This Is Where It Ends - Marieke Nijkamp

Began reading: 21.8.2017
Completed reading: 23.8.2017
Overall rating: 4 stars

10:00 a.m.

The principal of Opportunity High School finishes her speech, welcoming the entire student body to a new semester and encouraging them to excel and achieve.

10:02 a.m.

The students get up to leave the auditorium for their next class.

10:03 a.m.

The auditorium doors won’t open.

10:05 a.m.

Someone starts shooting.

Told from four different perspectives over the span of fifty-four harrowing minutes, terror reigns as one student’s calculated revenge turns into the ultimate game of survival.

Trigger warning: this book contains school shootings, alcoholism and sexual assault.

This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp is a contemporary young adult fiction novel. I purchased this book as soon as I laid my eyes on it. I noticed that there were so many negative reviews for this book, but I thought it was BRILLIANT!

It started as an ordinary day at school – a welcome back assembly kicks off the first day back at school. After the principal’s speech, the students begin to file out of the auditorium, only to find that all of the doors and emergency exits have been locked. Two minutes later, a boy enters the hall and begins shooting. Autumn and her secret girlfriend Sylvia are two of the students trapped with the gunman, doing their best to survive without bringing attention to themselves because their relationship has the potential to be catastrophic. Claire is another student at the high school, but hears the gunfire from track practice. It is up to her to seek emergency help for her disabled brother and fellow classmates. Tomás is also outside the auditorium at the time of the shooting, but he fears that his sister could be a target. He will have to work together with his best friend to enter the auditorium and help students escape, but will his bravery attract the attention of the gunman and cost him his life?

The book was well-written, and I loved the fast pacing of the narrative. The literary techniques that were used, including flashbacks, point of view and and tragedy, successfully portrayed the tense and upsetting events within the novel. There were also some great quotes, including:

The only things that give us purpose are the stories that tie us together (p. 50).

Fear and survival are two sides of the same coin (p. 57).

‘We’re more than our mistakes. We’re more than what people expect of us’ (p. 100).

We’re not just fighting for survival – we’re fighting for hope and a thousand tomorrows (p. 142).

If you’re afraid, think about tomorrow, because tomorrow will be a new day. Tomorrow, there’ll be new chances (p. 220).

More quotes from the novel can be found here.

This story is broken up and told in four perspectives: Autumn, Sylvia, Claire and Tomás. As well as these characters, we are also given others, which provides us with a variety of characters to like, dislike and relate to. I came to love this group of characters because each of them told the story from various perspectives, with two inside the auditorium and two outside of it. So, we were given a well-rounded story which made the narrative twice as interesting. As well as the different perspectives, each character had a unique back-story or relationship with the gunman, and this heightened the tension. The fact that the four main characters shared a past with the gunman was a clever way to provide insight on such a distressing situation.

When I pick up a book, I expect to feel a rollercoaster of emotions for the characters – isn’t that what separates a good book from a great book? I knew from this novel’s context that it was going to be turbulent, but damn the emotions! Just thinking about the storyline as I type this is making me tear up. The atmosphere in the auditorium felt palpable, and I felt like I was there with the students. I was terrified, but I almost cried when the shooting began. I cried over the deaths of some secondary characters, and those emotions continued as one of the students kept tweeting his friend. These feelings, as I’ve mentioned in past reviews, demonstrate that I was able to form connections to the characters. I don’t think I’ll be moving on from these character deaths any time soon.

                     

The blurb of the book was the primary reason why I decided to buy the book. It projected mystery, drama and tension and it didn’t let me down. The plot was incredibly dark, but I have to admit that it was morbidly intriguing. I wanted to know what was going to happen, how the students were going to react, and how the authorities were going to handle the situation. Of course, this topic is relevant in the present-day, but I have only ever seen these stories told in the media. Being able to read the book through a student’s eyes made it feel like I was experiencing it first-hand, which cannot be achieved through the media. I was able to read about the students’ thought processes, and experiencing the shock that they felt when they saw victims of the shooting.

One of the downsides to this book was the amount of unanswered questions. The novel itself was fairly short (282 pages) and covered a lot in the space of fifty-four minutes, so it was a quick read. However, I felt like there were some details that could have been added to answer questions and it wouldn’t have affected the overall book. Some of the questions that I’m left with include: who is Jay Eyck from Twitter? What drove Tyler to this point? I understand that he felt isolated from his family and the community, but that wouldn’t have driven him to do what he did. Also, how did Claire’s family react to their loss? After the tragedy, there is a time skip but there is no mention of how the families with lost loved ones were coping. It would have been nice to know if everyone was coping, or if they moved away.

                   

Another issue with this novel was how unrealistic some of the sections were, and I believe that this was why there were so many negative reviews. I was hoping that the writing in this novel would accurately portray the various aspects of a school shooting. I understand that balancing realistic features with fictional plot lines can be difficult, but accurately presenting a character’s emotions isn’t too difficult in these circumstances. In the book, the characters who lost friends or family didn’t even really cry – I’m pretty sure that if I lost a sibling, I’d be bawling my eyes out. I felt like they didn’t even shed a tear. It was bordering on romanticising or sensationalising school shootings because there were a few inappropriate or irrelevant plot lines or character thoughts that would never have happened in real life.

My favourite character was Claire because she proved that she was stronger than she thought she was, protective of her friends and family, responsible, empathetic and caring.

The biggest disagreement that I had in the story was Claire and Chris’ relationship. Like I said, I felt that some things were inappropriate in such a dark narrative, and this was one of them. I think that it would have been better if they grew close, but kissing crossed the line. It just felt inappropriate, even as a sub-plot.

                   

My favourite part of the novel was Tyler’s entrance into the auditorium, as it was dramatic and oozing with suspense. It was a shock to learn about who Tyler was and how he was linked to the protagonists, so discovering these connections really made the scene dramatic and intense.

Recommendation time! If you like Hate List by Jennifer Brown, Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult, Give A Boy A Gun by Todd Strasser, and Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll, you will love this book. Also, I recommend this book to anyone who likes We Need To Talk About Kevin, Home Room, Beautiful Boy, Zero Day, and Bowling For Columbine.

Happy reading!

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Dear Amy - Helen Callaghan

Began reading: 16.8.2017
Completed reading: 21.8.2017
Overall rating: 2 stars

In her guise as ‘Dear Amy’, agony aunt for a local newspaper, Margot Lewis has dealt with all sorts of letters – but never one like this…

Dear Amy,

I’ve been kidnapped by a strange man.

I don’t know where I am.

Please help me,

Bethan Avery

This must be a cruel hoax. Because Bethan Avery has been missing for nearly two decades.

But as the present-day search intensifies for another missing schoolgirl, Margot is unnerved enough to take the letter to the police, hoping they will dismiss it as a sick joke.

Instead, they let Margot in on a little secret. One that confirms her darkest fears and tangles her up in the search for the sender, which could save one girl’s life and cost Margot her own…

Trigger warning: this book contains substance abuse and sexual assault/paedophilia.

Dear Amy by Helen Callaghan is a fictional novel that contains thriller and mystery themes. I was interested in reading this book since its release, but I didn’t want to purchase it. I’m glad that I didn’t because this book did not live up to my expectations AT ALL. I was so disappointed with this book, and I came close to giving it up several times.

School teacher and agony aunt for the local newspaper, Margot Lewis, has not had an easy upbringing. Being brought up by nuns, Margot had to learn independence from a young age. Her present-day life might appear to be perfect to her students, but Margot is experiencing anxiety and a divorce. When one of her students disappears, Margot receives letters from another abducted girl from twenty years ago, pleading for Margot’s help. When Margot gives the letters to the police, they inform her that it’s a joke but things quickly turn serious when the letters become increasingly detailed. While Margot struggles with her personal problems, she will also become involved with the case of the missing girls – and the closer Margot gets to solving the mystery, the higher the risk of her falling into danger herself.

The book was well-written, in terms of structure and lack of errors; however, the pace was extremely slow. Callaghan utilised a variety of literary techniques to add detail to the narrative, which helped with imagining the story in my mind. These techniques included setting, flashbacks and foreshadowing. There were some great quotes, including:

Sometimes I feel like a goldfish, with the glass walls of my bowl providing a continuous source of novel amusement each time I swim around them (p. 15).

[…]there’s plenty of evidence that reading aloud is good for kids. They have to engage with the text; even what appears to be the most colourless and stammering rendition implies choices in what to emphasise and what to play down – what to show and what to hide. It requires you to structure your language, to be fluent, to wrestle with what you are saying, to face the crowd (p. 41).

Appearances are of vital importance when you’re at that age – my personal conviction is that this is something we are all supposed to grow out of, and yet so few of us do (p. 92).

[…]telling people things about yourself is always, always a mistake – like a drug, in a way – the euphoria of communication and trust is always followed up by the regret of paranoia and suspicion (p. 180).

Things, once known, can never be unknown (p. 180).

More quotes from the novel can be found here.

The range of characters is important in a story, and I believe that they should be memorable – who wants to read a book, only to forget the characters as soon as you finish it? Callaghan successfully incorporated a small variety of characters to provide individual back-stories and personalities. The character ‘voices’ weren’t too unique, but their backgrounds were interesting and added depth to the plot. The characters provided a different side to the story, and I enjoyed reading how it unfolded as we learned more about the characters.

                    

Speaking of back-stories, I thought that incorporating the different perspectives was a good choice. This might make me sound like a psychopath, but I enjoy reading about what is happening to the abducted characters in a story such as this one. I thought that reading from Katie’s perspective was insightful and intriguing because we could gain an image of how they were being treated and what they were thinking. I also felt that going inside the kidnapper’s mind was interesting. Reading about how he began to develop an interest in specific girls, the reasons behind the abductions, and how he met Bethan Avery was extremely chilling and grimly fascinating. The only I had with it was not knowing whose perspective I was reading – I think the different perspectives should be labelled so I wouldn’t have to go all the way back to the beginning of the section to realise who was speaking.

There is a fine line between good and bad plot twists – I usually don’t mind if some twists are predictable, as long as they are appropriate and can be justified. I prefer plot twists to be unpredictable, but I can roll with the punches so to speak. I found that this novel had a few predictable plot twists that seemed too obvious, which removed the suspense. This was one of the reasons why I was so close to not finishing this book – if it’s meant to be a thriller, it needs to be full of suspense; without the suspense, it’s not a thriller. Having the suspense removed from the plot through predictable plot twists killed the narrative for me.

                    

One of the major issues that I had with this book was the last section, heading towards the conclusion. A narrative should/must flow coherently, but in this case, I think it didn’t; instead, it felt choppy. I could see what Callaghan was trying to do: answer the questions by going back – similar to how a film or tv show would give closure. This novel failed in doing so, and it came across as abrupt and resembled a checklist (like: this happened here, oh but I forgot to mention that this happened before… let’s jump forward because this was important but don’t forget this important titbit that happened before the last important point). See what I mean? It was all over the place.

The protagonist is the most important aspect of a good novel, particularly thrillers because their thought process helps solves the mystery. I would have been happy to have been given more narration from Katie because she had depth – her family situation was interesting and raised so many questions. In contrast, Margot’s story felt dull and boring because there was no drama and her dialogue felt like “woe is me” the whole time. Because of this, I lost interest quickly – why should I read 344 pages with a whiny protagonist?

                                                

My favourite character was Martin because he was friendly, direct and honest.  He made Margot confront her hidden past and was there for her when she was trying to find herself.

When I read a book, I do my best to like the protagonist, so I tried to like her. Unfortunately, her constant self-pity and self-doubt really put me off her. She was a confusing character, so I wasn’t interested in discovering her secrets.

My favourite part of the novel was Bethan Avery’s abduction which was told from the kidnapper’s perspective. It demonstrated how easily trust can be broken, and how detailed a psychopath’s plan can reach. It was intense but interesting at the same time.

Recommendation time! If you like Follow Me Back by Nicci Cloke, Risk by Fleur Ferris, Stolen: A Letter to My Captor by Lucy Christopher, and The Cellar series by Natasha Preston, you will love this book. Also, I recommend this book to anyone who likes The Call, the Taken series, Gone, and Kidnap.

Happy reading!

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