Read all about it (2)

I have combined all my book reviews (that are not of an Unfinished Series) into this page as Wix has now added a new feature of linking to sections in your post (links are hopefully after this intro ). Thanks, Wix, they really do read their complaints page (XD). Enjoy the reviews and Happy reading

CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE (TOMI ADEYEMI)

THE ONE MEMORY OF FLORA BANKS (EMILY BARR)

Happy Reading !!!

This is a 'read all about it' book review, reviewing the incredible book

CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE by TOMI ADEYEMI

The powerful blurb -

They killed my mother,

they took our magic,

they tried to bury us,

now we rise

Zelie's mother was taken from her, magic banished from the kingdom of Orisha, magic oppressed and hated do they have the chance to rise again? Find out in this awesomely, descriptive and action-packed book that I give 5 stars, It is about magic, how innocent lives can be taken, and fighting for freedom and happiness again.

Rating - 5 stars

Age recommendations- 12+ (maybe mature 11 yr olds)

Below is a slideshow, click the black arrows at the side of the picture to view the next picture

A book review

The one memory of Flora Banks

A book by EMILY BARR

A tale of memory and being true to yourself

Flora Banks only has one surfacing memory. She follows that memory to the arctic on an impossible journey of seeking out the boy she loves. Flora has got anterograde amnesia which means she is unable to make new memories from the day her brain tumor was removed. She sets out alone, something she rarely is, uncovering painful secrets along the way.

⅘ stars

I really liked this book, it had lots of twists and turns- it is maybe a bit predictable if you read a lot of YA fiction. I liked how it was written and I really felt for the characters or disliked them. One thing was it was a bit unrealistic, I thought was that falling in love could be remembered or make up for a lack of brain tissue.

12 plus

This book is labeled as YA (young adult) fiction and I would recommend it for ages 12 and up. It has some upsetting themes, as well as a page-turning mystery.

Themes

Adventure, romance, illness or trauma, self-discovery, and mystery.

READ ALL ABOUT... THE LIE TREE!

“There was a hunger in her, and girls were not supposed to be hungry. They were supposed to nibble sparingly when at the table, and their minds were supposed to be satisfied with a slim diet too.”

― Frances Hardinge, The Lie Tree

Also by this author - Cuckoo's Song (book review)

When Faith's father dies under mysterious circumstances a quietly, bold, intrigued Faith searches for clues and discovers the Lie Tree that feeds off lies and delivers truth to whoever consumes its fruit. She begins to delve deeper into the side of her family she never saw and her lies start to spiral out of control.

It is set in 18th century England and also looks at the fight between religion and science at that time, the expectations and roles of women in society, the role of nature in the world , and the anatomy of liars and lying.

A quote about lies

“There were kind lies. You still look beautiful. I love you. I forgive you.

There were frightened lies. Someone else must have taken it. Of course I am Anglican. I never saw that baby before.

There were predatory lies. Buy this tonic if you want your child to recover. I will look after you. Your secret is safe with me.

Half-lies, and the tense little silences where a truth should have been. Lies like knives, lies like poultices. The tiger's stripe, and the fawn's dusky dapple. And everywhere, everywhere, the lies that people told themselves. Dreams like cut flowers, with no nourishing root. Will-o'-the-wisp lights to make them feel less alone in the dark. Hollow resolutions and empty excuses.”

― Frances Hardinge, The Lie Tree

Read for more great writing

This book is a bit slow-paced at the beginning but it makes up for it in the second half with lots of thrill and is very evocative.

10+ - a bit scary

READ ALL ABOUT ... TIN Tin is a book my dad (Shoutout to ALTAF) kindly got me as he had heard so many good things about it. I am glad to say that it did live up to the hype. Waterstones describe it as a science fiction tale as it is in a world where technology is very advanced and 'mechanicals' or robots are owned by a lot of people as well as to serve mankind. The laws governing their creation are strict and above all the merging of human and mechanical is strictly forbidden. The adventure starts in eccentric Abalsolms scrap shed, where Christopher is the only 'proper' boy out of his robot friends. He was orphaned in a fire and can only remember vague images of his parents. what frightening things are really happening and what will become of him and his eccentric but loyal crew. The first sentence- Snow was falling from the night sky, and all the world was cold and hushed except for the regular metallic squeaking of Jack’s joints. It gets a strong five stars from me An easy read with no age limit but I would recommend 8+ to enjoy it best. READ ALL ABOUT IT - CUCKOO'S SONG Cuckoo Song By Frances Hardinge Cuckoo Song is a fantastic book and a spine-chilling page-turner that I couldn't put down. It starts very mysteriously when Tris wakes up, in a green doctor's room. She feels strange and ill and knows she is not all that she was before. Her sister seems terrified of her and the truth to why is more terrible than she could’ve imagined. Can she change things before it is too late? This book kept me up at night as it is quite scary but so good. A great read for adults, teens, and tweens alike. I would recommend it for 10+-year-olds. Themes and praise for Cuckoo song: “Cuckoo Song is best described as a dark fairy tale”- Goodreads ‘Fantastically eerie and beautifully written novel’- Amazon. ‘a coming of age book, a dark fairy tale, and a family drama… a story about the power (and horror) of both love and loss’- thebooksmugglers.com. One note- I feel as if this author has one too many side plots in the books I've read and it makes the bit overcrowded but it's still a thoroughly enjoyable book for me

The eerie cover Also by Frances Hardinge- The Lie Tree (click the link above to see my review)