August 2018 – Playground of Randomness

Month: August 2018

31
Aug
2018

Fiction Friday: Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart (Grace and Fury #1)

Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review. I tried reading a few pages a day but was unable to focus. It took about a month for me to carve out time to read this nicely and I am so glad that I did. Once I got into this book, it was impossible to put down and I couldn’t read fast enough.
Nomi and Serina are two sisters who are very close but totally opposite in personality. Serina was raised to be a Grace, the perfect example of a gentle, subdued woman. Nomi, on the other hand, is defiant and has taught herself to read- something that is illegal for women.
When a twist of fate leaves Nomi as a Grace and Serina trapped on an island, both sisters have to fight for survival in two very different prisons.
This was an incredibly well-written book with characters you cannot trust (which is one of my favourite things in a book) and numerous plot twists. This book left me reeling and I absolutely CANNOT WAIT for the sequel. If you’re a fan of YA fantasy, definitely give this a go. You will not regret it.

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24
Aug
2018

Fiction Friday: Book Review- Elemental Thief by Rachel Morgan (Ridley Kayne Chronicles #1)

categories: Books, Reviews

Elemental Thief by Rachel Morgan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.
Magic was once a common part of life until a global magical event went wrong, ruining cities and killing people. Ridley Kayne was one of those affected- she lost her mother and her family had to give up their luxurious lifestyle. Magic was banned and several people lost their livelihood. Now Ridley spends her spare time stealing from those who have too much and giving to those in need.
When Ridley steals a figurine from one of the richest families, she is drawn into a web of danger. A stranger follows her home and is then killed allegedly by Ridley’s best friend. Ridley is soon tracked down by Archer, the son of the family she stole from, to get the stolen figurine back or lives will be in danger.
I had doubts going into this book as I am not a huge fan of Urban Fantasy. I actually thought this was a Robin Hood retelling. However I enjoyed this book and look forward to seeing where this series goes. I wish there was more romance because I ABSOLUTELY ADORE ARCHER. This book has really rich world-building and I definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy 0r anyone who has read Rachel Morgan’s books before. This may not be Creepy Hollow but it is definitely an intriguing read.

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17
Aug
2018

Fiction Friday: Book Review- The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert (The Hazel Wood #1)

categories: Books, Reviews

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alice has a pretty unusual life. She and her mother are constantly haunted by “bad luck” which follows them around wrecking havoc in their life. Alice’s grandmother is a famous author whose book about the creepy Hinterland had only one print run but gained fans with an almost obsessive interest in Alice and her family. When Alice learns that her grandmother has died, it seems like the obsessive fans will finally leave her alone. But it seems like more of them appear in Alice’s daily lives and it isn’t long before Alice’s mother is kidnapped. The only lead Alice has comes from the Hinterland itself, the supposed made-up world of her grandmother’s stories. Alice has to find her way into this magical land and find her mother.
I have been intrigued by this book ever since it first came out and was really excited to read it. However a large chunk of this book is basically just a road trip. I was close to giving up completely when the road trip finally ended and things got really interesting.
I loved the Hinterland tales. They were spooky, compelling and creepy. I would love to own a copy of my own.
“The Hazel Wood” was a really interesting read even with the excruciatingly long road trip. This was a great read with amazing world-building that I definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys their fairytales with a twist.

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03
Aug
2018

Fiction Friday: The Girl Before by J.P. Delaney

categories: Books, Reviews

The Girl Before by J.P. Delaney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“The Girl Before” tells the story of two girls in two different timelines. Both girls, Emma and Jane have experienced tragedies in their lives that led to them seeking a new place to stay. Both girls fall in love with the same beautiful house. And both girls become involved with the house’s mysterious architect.
When Jane moves in the house she soon discovers that Emma had died in the house. If Jane is making the same decisions that Emma is, does that mean that she too will meet the same end?
I really enjoyed this book. I was not sure if it was Fate or someone else leading both girls to go through the same events. This book is well-written with a very compelling plot and characters that you cannot trust. Definitely pick this up if you are a fan of thrillers.

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