Not You It's Me Review

Author: Julie Johnson

Genre:Contemporary, Romance

Rating: 4 Stars

“I can’t imagine there’s any man on earth who would regret kissing you.”

As I read more and more contemporary romance, I begin to feel disappointed in myself for thinking novels like 50 Shades of Grey were a great novels (besides the erotica). As the years continue and romance novels move back to Romance instead of Sex, I feel grateful. Don't get me wrong, sex is a huge part of most relationships, but it is not everything. I loved Not You It's Me because it had the perfect balance of both. First of all, Julie Johnson has a name that is just made to be published. I don't know why I find this important but it is! 

I might have given my heart to this novel.I can tell a novel is great from my body's response to it. There were shivers going through me. My body was saying; Yes, MORE of THIS! A novel is great, in my opinion, when it unifies not only your mind but your body, your soul. There is a certain magic in that that I rarely encounter. 

“You’re one of those weirdos who plays chess against himself, and lays awake at night thinking through strategy, and has a first edition of The Art of War on his bookshelf, aren’t you?” I shake my head in faux-exasperation. “I have a strict rule against dating men like that. I don’t want to be the Luke to anyone’s Yoda, you know what I’m saying?”

Not You It's Me is a story about two individuals, Gemma and Chase, brought together from years of pain, anger and disappointment. Gemma Summers is a 29 year old art curator, who is too scared of showing her art, her soul, to the world. Chase Croft is the soon to be CEO of Croft Industries, crushed by the pressure of expectation and duty. During a basketball game, their worlds combine and set in motion a chain of events that end in their happiness. 

“Stop looking at me like that, Gemma,” he says, his voice so low, it sounds like a threat. Probably because it is one. “Like what?” I ask defensively, my eyes locking with his. “Like you’d like to see what not dating me entails.”

Not You It's Me is a beautifully simple story. That is what makes it so special; it allows the reader to explore emotions rather than plot. I was a completely endearing story about struggle and love. The plot could be easily predicted but that didn't take away from the story too much. However, the ending felt too rushed; it could have been developed better to end on a stronger note. But the characters really did make up for it. Both major and minor characters made the novel flow naturally and realistic. I couldn't help but relate to their issues, laughing at their jokes, and crying alongside them.

“I know how it feels to be disappointed by family — by the people who are supposed to love you unconditionally. It’s a betrayal of everything that makes us human.

Find this on Goodreads and Amazon

Goodreads | Tumblr | Instagram | Photoblog

The Darkest Minds Review

Author: Alexandra Bracken

Genre: Dystopian, YA, Romance

Rating: 3 stars

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken is one of the most original stories to come out in 2012. The boom of dystopian novels brought upon a series of similiar, if not same, novels in the genre with the same very obvious formula. It is a very acclaimed genre, however, the amount of unoriginal stories makes dystopia very tedious and repetitive. The true founders of dystopia are George Orwell with 1984 and Margaret Atwoods' The Handmaid's tale. These two novels revolutionised the literary world and set the standard for great dystopian and Post Apocalyptic novels. 

Alexandra Bracken might have broken the tedious cycle with the Darkest Minds. This was not romance placed in a futuristic world or a contemporary forced into the distinct genre. The creativity, passion and work from Bracken placed into this novel makes The Darkest Minds are household name. The world is meticulously dark and despondent. The societal values, rules and guides are authentic and genuine, making the story all that more believable and enjoyable. With these factors, Alexandra Bracken has created a work that reminds reader why they continue to read dystopian novels.

With that said, its time to get to the tough part. The Darkest Minds had everything I needed to love it, but this didn't occur. I liked and respected it but throughout the whole reading process I felt disconnect from the general plot as it lacked a goal or aim despite the great world building and writing style. The beginning of the novel was stellar; seeing the children camps from inside created an intense atmosphere that pulled you into the story. However, as the novel progressed and the main character distanced herself from the camps, the plot lost a lot of heat and halted my personal progress from liking to loving. Three fourths of the novel became a cat-and-chase road trip between 4 young teenagers. Slowly, the Darkest Minds loses its strength and dulls in comparison to the first few chapters. 

Ruby wasn't the strongest protagonist. This is not saying that all protagonists have to be instantly strong and brave, because that isn't realistic either. Ruby lacked major character development and the novel suffered from that. She is seen as a leech, first in the camp where her best friend takes punishment for her and on the road where Liam and the others sacrifice themselves to protect her.She is one of the most "powerful" users in the US and yet she refuses to use her power to better her own world. She cowers to danger and runs, figuratively and literally, from the problems in her society. Ruby wasn't the greatest of protagonists but she was kind, loyal, caring and funny at times. The supporting character really made this story phenomenal; I loved them all for all their quirks and all! 

Overall, this could have been a great novel and a game changer. It had a lot of potential but the execution was lacking . Please take into consideration that this is my personal comments and opinions. It might not be accurate an indicator of the novels value and merit! I truly believe a large amount of readers will and have enjoyed this series. Alexandra Bracken does really know her craft and I applaud her for her dedication and work drive.

Find The Darkest Minds on Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. 

Goodreads | Tumblr | Instagram | Photoblog 

Queen of Shadows Review

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Genre: Fantasy, YA, Romance

Rating: 5 stars

She had once believed that she’d been born to be queen. She had since learned that she’d been born to be a wolf.

Queen of Shadows is the fourth highly anticipated novel in the Throne of Glass series. Thank the Gods that Sarah J. Maas did not make this into a trilogy. Set place in Erilea, Queen of Shadows begins where Heir of Fire ended with the return of Celaena, assassin, king's champion, and queen . But not everything is as it seems as all the characters undergo a complete make over, creating almost a juxtaposition to their previous selves. Rifthold is slowly falling apart with more executions and brutality from the king. Darkness seeps into the world of Erilea and morality blurs. It seems as if the world is on Celaena's shoulders and the people anxiously wait to see what she will do with it....

She was the heir of fire. She was fire, and light, and ash, and embers. She was Aelin Fireheart, and she bowed for no one and nothing, save the crown that was hers by blood and survival and triumph.

Queen of Shadows deserves 5 stars if not only for the bar it set for any other YA fantasy in the future. Do not get me wrong I loved the first three books in this series, but they always tethered on 4 to 4.5 stars. It seemed as if Sarah J. Maas was a bit tentative about exploring the world of magic and fantasy. And even with her attitude as such, she did create a master piece. However, no one can dispute that she put everything into Queen of Shadows! Nothing was stopping her. 

“If you are allowed to change so greatly in two years, may I not be permitted to have changed as well?”

The characters surpassed any of my expectations. There was an air of maturity and civility that wasn't there previously. Most of the characters finally established their role in Erilea and their actions became more conscious and  perceptive. I commend Maas for telling the story in third person omniscient, allowing everyone's story to be heard. It made the world more vibrant and blurred the lines between good and bad. Being forced to acknowledge everyones' past and story, the reader placed in a situation where they can't dehumanise the other side. This is what makes a great fantasy, the ability to understand that the world is not made of definitive and absolute elements. 

The Wing Leader said from behind her, “Do you believe monsters are born, or made?” From what she’d seen today, she would say some creatures were very much born evil. But what Manon was asking … “I’m not the one who needs to answer that question,” Elide said.

There is no way I can articulate the power, drive, passion that is Celaena. Gone is the brute, who would act first and think later. What emerges is a woman, not a girl, a woman so confident and sure of herself. Celaena does not hide, but embraces everything she is, the good and the bad. She becomes a predator, watching everyone's steps with a killing calm. She become the shadow itself, always moving, shifting, changing. With her intelligent golden eyes, her panther-like body and her deadly court, she is unstoppable. Finally! After so much anticipating, the readers were introduced to a QUEEN.

“You bring my court into this, Chaol,” Aelin said with lethal softness, “and I don’t care what you were to me, or what you have done to help me. You betray them, you hurt them, and I don’t care how long it takes, or how far you go: I’ll burn you and your gods-damned kingdom to ash. Then you’ll learn just how much of a monster I can be.”

The plot was slower than usual, but for a purpose. We had to relearn everything because everyone and everything has dramatically changed. The plot also mirrored Celaena's new personality by reflecting on her new intuitive and keen manner. With Rowan by her side, everything felt RIGHT. The build up was phenomenal, when two worlds crashed into each other. Epicness.  People have been complaining about Manon's story but honestly by the end, I was CRAVING more Manon! Everyone played an instrumental role at the end of the novel and those 656 pages were well presented. 

That wildness, that untamed fierceness … They weren’t born of a free heart, but of one that had known despair so complete that living brightly, living violently, was the only way to outrun it.

Objectively, I believe Queen of Shadows deserves all acclaim is shall receive. Its moments like these that remind me why I keep reading until my eyes burn and my body shuts down. There is no better high in the world than reading a great book. I just know I will be floating for a long while. 

“What if we go on,” he said, “only to more pain and despair? What if we go on, only to find a horrible end waiting for us?” Aelin looked northward, as if she could see all the way to Terrasen. “Then it is not the end.”

You can find Queen of Shadows on  Goodreads, Amazon, iBooks.

Goodreads | Tumblr | Instagram | Photoblog

Sugar Baby Beautiful Review

Author: J.J.McAvoy

Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Dark

Rating: 5 "freely given" stars

Sugar Baby Beautiful by J. J. McAvoy has been taking the book community by storm. Only released on the 21st of August, and its seen an outpour of high reviews and ratings. It makes people wonder, what makes this novel so special? What does it have that can cause such a stir in a community that at most times is critical and apprehensive about most novels. Having my favourite reviewers singing its praise, almost shocked me. This is the moment where I reveal how I judged a book by its cover (I'm sorry but its the first thing you see when you pick up any novel and even though I have been proven time and time again, I still do it). There is a pretty male and female on the cover, which is pretty standard in any contemporary romance. Nothing new , right? Wrong. Wrong in so many ways. 

I can't justify or excuse myself. I entered this book with my own prejudices and judgments, thinking this might be one of those overrated novels. Anyways, now that we have come to the conclusion that I can be an idiot (It really does happen to the best of us), I can get into the review.

Sugar Baby Beautiful is a beautiful story about two broken individuals finding light within each other and also within themselves. It is about coming out of a dark place and still finding a reason to live. It's about compatibility; finding that one person who accepts you flaws and all. Sugar Baby Beautiful might be categorised as contemporary romance, but from what I read and felt, it went far deeper than it has been credited for. It explored the human mind, depression, societies response to such matters, happiness, love, and this self inadequacy that I KNOW we have all felt at some point in time of our lives. J.J. McAvoy effortlessly and artistically approaches dark, and in some societies, taboo subjects.  From my perspective, this novel acted as a mirror, reflecting all my issues, emotions and scars and forcing me to open that floodgate of emotion. 

“Isn’t that the game we’re playing? You tell me to do something, I say no, yet you get me to do it anyway?”

The reader is introduced to Felicity Harper, a woman just trying to deal with life day by day. She lives in an apartment with her best friends, Marc and Chloe; making up her family.  One night, her friends convince her to go to this Sugar Daddy party where she can meet a rich guy and he can provide for her. At first, she is apprehensive about the party, not wanting anything more than sex from her companion. Finally she goes and meets Theo, the owner of the house, and there is instant intense and dark connection between both of them. It felt like two lost souls gravitating toward each other, forming an impenetrable bond. Felicity's music touches Theo and makes him feel, something he hasn't really done for a while. With both of their guards up, they work through their amazing but at times frustrating relationship. When Felicity joins Theo's entertainment company and gala performance, things get a bit REAL. At this point, I can't say any more without ruining the story. But expect the unexpected. There was this point in the novel where Sugar Baby Beautiful transformed from a contemporary romance to dark and uncharacteristically real story. 

The plot...damn...enough said....

The characters... holy mother.....

The last 20% of the novel....shaking my head...

This novel... left me speechless....

“How about Sugar Baby Beautiful?” I replied. He looked confused. “What does that mean?” “I’d like to think it means the kind of beauty even the richest people can’t buy.”

Sugar Baby Beautiful needs to be read. 

You can find this amazing novel on Goodreads, Amazon and Audible!

Goodreads | Tumblr | Instagram | Photoblog|

The Black Mage: First Year and Apprentice Review

The Black Mage is a new Young Adult Fantasy series revolving around the world of Jerar. It is an original and insightful perspective on magic and power. In this world, from a young age, people have the choice of either staying in the traditional route in life or applying to one of the three war schools: The Academy, The Calvary, or the army. The Academy is the most prestigious of them all, as Mages are of high value in their society. 

In this first novel , First Year, we are introduced to Ryiah, an aspiring Combat Mage. With her brother by her side, they begin the tumultuous year trails at the Academy. Not only are there Combat Mages but also Restoration Mages, who deal with healing, and Alchemy Mages that alter and create various potions and weapons. The students' will and magic are pushed beyond limits, friendships are strained and tested, enemies rear their ugly head, and love sprouts. Each student is there  to prove something, most importantly, Prince Darren the Second Heir of the Crown. Darren and Ryiah form a shaky and unlikely friendship, however, everything isn't as it seems. The big question seems to be; does Ryiah have what it takes to become an apprentice? 

Review:4 STARS In terms of story building, Rachel E. Carter gets an A+ as the descriptions felt effortless and the story continued to flow naturally. Rachel builds this beautiful, but harsh world where power and influence are held at high esteem. The vivid imagery takes away any difficulty with the time period and society. The characters were complex, driven, dark, vulnerable, and endearing. I know I have used a lot of adjectives, but trust me, I could have used so much more! It isn't every day you meet a heroine who isn't naturally the best at her field. Ryiah had to WORK for everything she achieved which made her actions even more honourable. The novel showed so much determination, commitment and passion from Ryiah, even if she didn't have the best odds. Yes, she did make mistakes but what was so remarkable is she did learn from them. The supporting cast deserve a round of applause; the banter and rivalry between the characters made it more enjoyable and added some light into an already dark year of study.  The Academy was brutal and harsh but you couldn't help respect and admire what it all stood for. The plot was well placed but it didn't give the reader much time to adjust to the academy, being a reflection on the characters experiences (good technique , hehe). I am so excited to continue on to the second novel and only hope it is as captivating as the first.

In Apprentice, Ryiah has become the unlikely sixth mage of Combat. However, she realises soon that being an apprentice isn't what its cut out to be. She is stuck for four years with a mentor that hates her and Prince Darren, who only continues to confuse and unravel her. The apprentice combines "boarding school" life with the real world. Being a Mage stops being  romanticised  and  idealised when faced with the implications and                  consequences. As rebel groups grow bigger and tensions arise, Ryiah showcases both her strength and intelligence. There is a four year time span where the reader sees the gradual growth of character, maturity and depth. It is very apparent we do not know the true length of her magic. With all the unknowns, Ryiah and the series have no bounds.... 





My Review:4.5 STARS
I know I am idiot for not giving Apprentice 5 stars or more. But something is holding me back. This novel was truly spectacular as it artistically touched of my favourite themes : Magic and power. There was something very uplifting and real about this sequel. The characters were fearless, strong and 'heroic' whilst still remaining vulnerable and impressionable. There was more darkness, more danger, but also more opportunities to prove oneself. I think I am just holding out for the third book for that last star. In my previous review of First Year , I finished by hoping the sequel would live up to the first. What a fool I was for doubting Rachel E. Carter for a second! She got my back and did not disappoint. Her writing in Apprentice might have even surpassed all of my expectations. The reader is thrown back into the realm of Jerar and the apprenticeship begins in full force. If you thought The Academy was tough, you are out of luck. Ryiah and her friends are thrust into the competitive and intense world of magic. Each character is pushed harder both emotionally and physically. Four years of hard work, dedication, mistakes, pain, loss and struggle accumulate to the ascension. There is much more drama and adventure as the characters are thrown into the real world with a war with a rival kingdoms looming. With that said, it's best to go blind with this novel, the surprises and intensity make the novel even more gripping! 

I can't wait for the next one! *squeals*

Find The Black Mage series on Goodreads and Amazon now!
Don't be nervous on following me on my social media! Check out my Goodreads account for more weekly updates and Tumblr for more personal thoughts. 

Goodbye for now! 

Introduction

There is this vision, a vision of a small girl laying flat on the floor with a book in her arms. The name of the novel isn't apparent, but you can just tell that the girl is enamoured by it. Her eyes are dilated, moving back and forth, absorbing everything as if this moment wouldn't last. She knew when she shut the novel, she would have to say goodbye to a bunch of friends she had got to know in such a short time.  Anyone passing her in that moment would know she was happily lost to the world around her. Laying in that unremarkable room, her passion for stories shone. The little girl knew from then on, she would give a little piece of heart to every story she loved. Until one day she would grow up, walk into a library and she would see the books as not inanimate objects, but as her friends, her family, her future, her passion, her struggle, a reflection of herself.... 

This was my vision, my memory, of my first time falling in love with a book. It has become a recurring dream and nightmare. The memory compounds the moment where my life altered. As sappy and cliche as that sounds, its the truth. Because of novels and stories, I see and comprehend the world so differently; I am more open-minded, pensive, and worldly. Now sometimes, the dream shifts and I see myself and where I would be if it weren't for novels, and the picture isn't pretty. This might seem as a harsh judgement and can hear the jury shouting : Diana! Just because people don't enjoy reading doesn't mean they will turn out HORRIBLE. And they are right! Of course they are! However, from my point of view, my life wouldn't have been as unfulfilling thus far. I grew up in Kenya and even with the country thriving, education and learning are seen as a privilege. I have grown knowing the importance of knowledge and the gift I was given; being able to read and write. We all have our vices and novels, the romantic idea of escaping into a world completely different than my own, is mine. 

Despite this, I have always been so apprehensive about sharing my views and thoughts on novels, with the fear that I will be criticised back. There is always someone who knows more , does more, is better. That doesn't give you the excuse not to try. This is me trying. This is me broadcasting my thoughts, emotions, knowledge on issues that are important me. 

I am Diana, and if you want to be part of my journey, there is an abundance of space and acceptance. You have probably realised that I love books (If it hasn't clear thus far, either I am doing something wrong or its you ;) ). So many of them, I literally cant even count. It is one the hobbies that will never cease to lift my spirits, make me think, make me feel. My only hope is to spread my passion and aspirations so that the rest of the world can feel this BLISS that comes from them. 

With that said....

Thanks guys! Let this begin!