Title:Â The Hand on the Wall Author:Â Maureen Johnson Series:Â Truly Devious Genre:Â YA Contemporary Mystery Publication Date:Â January 21st, 2020 Pages:Â 368 Publishers:Â Katherine Tegen Books Rating:
Goodreads Synopsis
Ellingham Academy must be cursed. Three people are now dead. One, a victim of either a prank gone wrong or a murder. Another, dead by misadventure. And now, an accident in Burlington has claimed another life. All three in the wrong place at the wrong time. All at the exact moment of Stevie’s greatest triumph . . .
She knows who Truly Devious is. She’s solved it. The greatest case of the century.
At least, she thinks she has. With this latest tragedy, it’s hard to concentrate on the past. Not only has someone died in town, but David disappeared of his own free will and is up to something. Stevie is sure that somehow—somehow—all these things connect. The three deaths in the present. The deaths in the past. The missing Alice Ellingham and the missing David Eastman. Somewhere in this place of riddles and puzzles there must be answers.
Then another accident occurs as a massive storm heads toward Vermont. This is too much for the parents and administrators. Ellingham Academy is evacuated. Obviously, it’s time for Stevie to do something stupid. It’s time to stay on the mountain and face the storm—and a murderer.
In the tantalizing finale to the Truly Devious trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson expertly tangles her dual narrative threads and ignites an explosive end for all who’ve walked through Ellingham Academy.
As you may know The Hand on the Wall is the final book in the Truly Devious Trilogy! You can find my reviews for The Vanishing Stair HERE!
This series is HANDS DOWN one of my favourite series of all time. I have read Truly Devious & The Vanishing Stair leading up to the release of The Hand on the Wall and I have loved it every time! I feel like each time I read it I discover or realise new things.
The Hand on the Wall & the whole Truly Devious series is so well written! It is gripping, unpredictable & entertaining. I just couldn’t get enough of it! I read nearly the whole thing in one day! I only had to read 30ish pages on the second day as I only put it down after the big reveal because I was exhausted!
I love Stevie as a main character! She is one of my favourite characters I’ve read from in any book and I wish we had more! I loved the references she made to Sherlock and of course Hercule Poirot, who I also love. I really enjoyed most of the other characters too! They were all so well written. They grew & devloped throughout the series and I loved watching that.
The Hand on the Wall was also just so unpredictable! I have 101 guesses but not one of them was correct! There were amazing plot twists thrown in but every little detail added up in the end which was so satisfying.
I can’t wait to see what Maureen Johnson writes next but I hope it will be another mystery! I was sad to see this book end as I didn’t want this story with these characters to be over but I’m also really happy with how it all rounded off in the end.
Have you read any of Maureen Johnson’s other books? I have been curious as I loved this one but just don’t know and don’t know where to start! Any suggestions or recommendations would be appreciated.
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It is a year after the action of One of Us Is Lying, and someone has started playing a game of Truth or Dare.
But this is no ordinary Truth or Dare. This game is lethal. Choosing the truth may reveal your darkest secrets, accepting the dare could be dangerous, even deadly.
The teenagers of Bayview must work together once again to find the culprit, before it’s too late . . .
Trigger Warnings: Character forces himself on another character, Discussions of pretty brutal deaths (not detailed on page), Leukaemia & Alcohol Addiction/Alcohol Poisoning
One of Us is Next is even better than book 1, One of Us is Lying! You can find my Spoiler Free Review for One of Us is Lying HERE!
I honestly forgot how amazingly Karen M. McManus writes books! Her characters are extremely well developed & fleshed out. We follow 3 characters POV in One of Us is Next; Maeve, Phoebe & Knox and I really enjoyed all 3. My favourite POV to follow was definitely Maeve. She grows throughout the book and I love how McManus wrote her struggles with Leukaemia & Anxiety.
The plot of this book is extremely unpredictable and will keep you on the edge of your seat! This one I think was even more shocking than I remember One of Us if Lying being. It was so gripping and I just didn’t want to put it down. McManus builds tension & curiosity really well which makes her books leaving you wanting to know every detail.
Overall I really enjoy her writing, characters & plot and I can’t wait to see where she goes next!
Alternate Cover
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The curse is finally broken, but Prince Rhen of Emberfall faces darker troubles still. Rumors circulate that he is not the true heir and that forbidden magic has been unleashed in Emberfall. Although Rhen has Harper by his side, his guardsman Grey is missing, leaving more questions than answers.
Win the crown, save the kingdom.
Rumored to be the heir, Grey has been on the run since he destroyed Lilith. He has no desire to challenge Rhen–until Karis Luran once again threatens to take Emberfall by force. Her own daughter Lia Mara sees the flaws in her mother’s violent plan, but can she convince Grey to stand against Rhen, even for the good of Emberfall?
The heart-pounding, compulsively readable saga continues as loyalties are tested and new love blooms in a kingdom on the brink of war.
In the sequel to New York Times bestselling A Curse So Dark and Lonely, Brigid Kemmerer returns to the world of Emberfall in a lush fantasy where friends become foes and love blooms in the darkest of places.
I can honestly say that I enjoyed A Heart so Fierce and Broken even more than I did A Curse So Dark and Lonely. You can find my Spoiler Free Review for A Curse so Dark and Lonely HERE!
Obviously I still love the world & the writing, as I did in book 1. However one of my favourite parts of A Heart so Fierce and Broken was the 2 main characters. In book 1 we follow Rhen & Harper and while I did enjoy them I love the POV of Lia Mara & Grey that we follow in book 2! Grey was my favourite character in book 1, so of course I was going to love him in book 2 but I was delightfully surprised that I really enjoyed Lia Mara as well. I love her as a character as much as Grey, so it was fun following both of them through this story.
Ah yes, the most dangerous person at the party is always the girl sitting alone with a book.
A Heart so Fierce and Broken was also super action packed and was a very easy read for me. Most of the time it was fast paced and there were plenty of twists and turns to keep you on your toes. The story also flowed really well which helped make it easy and quick to read.
You said that not every problem can be solved by the end of a sword. I have carried those words with me for days… Since you made me realize that I am no longer a weapon to be wielded by another.
I absolutely love the world that is being developed throughout this series and it was awesome to explore even more of it in A Heart so Fierce and Broken. Not only did we explore new locations but also a new culture of people with a whole different view on the Royal family compared to in A Curse so Dark and Lonely.
Choices are never easy. There are good and bad options, but the most dangerous is to not make any choice at all.
So overall I enjoyed this one even more than A Curse so Dark and Lonely and I cannot wait for book 3, A Vow so Bold and Deadly which is set to release in January 2021! Let’s hope the trend continues and its even better again! I’m also super keen to find out who we will be following in A Vow so Bold and Deadly.
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The fifth installment in Seanan McGuire’s award-winning, bestselling Wayward Children series, Come Tumbling Down picks up the threads left dangling by Every Heart a Doorway and Down Among the Sticks and Bones
When Jack left Eleanor West’s School for Wayward Children she was carrying the body of her deliciously deranged sister–whom she had recently murdered in a fit of righteous justice–back to their home on the Moors.
But death in their adopted world isn’t always as permanent as it is here, and when Jack is herself carried back into the school, it becomes clear that something has happened to her. Something terrible. Something of which only the maddest of scientists could conceive. Something only her friends are equipped to help her overcome.
Eleanor West’s “No Quests” rule is about to be broken.
Again.
Firstly, that cover is freaking awesome! Have to give some love for all the Wayward Children covers really, they are all so bomb.
Even though this book is a Novella it is not lacking in the slightest! There is always tonnes of world building and even though we have seen this world specifically before in Down Among the Sticks and Bones there was still heaps to learn about the world & magic system. I love learning about new worlds, so this book is just perfect for that.
The story was also super fast paced and action packed basically the entire time which makes it really fast and easy to read as well as very gripping. I read the book in I think 2 sittings as I just didn’t want to put it down.
I also really enjoyed seeing characters from previous stories again. It’s really interesting to see how they have developed & grown since the events of the previous books. The Multi POV was really good as well as you saw all sides of what was going on in the story and learn a little more about each of the characters.
Overall, I really enjoy the Wayward Children series and I can’t wait to see what will happen in the next story!
Thank you to both NetGalley & Tor.com for providing an eGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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Title:Â The End and Other Beginnings Author:Â Veronica Roth Genre:Â YA SciFi Short Story Collection Publication Date:Â October 1st, 2019 Pages:Â 352 Publishers:Â HarperCollins Rating: See individual stories
Goodreads Synopsis
Bestselling Divergent and Carve the Mark author Veronica Roth delivers a stunning collection of novella-length stories set in the future, illustrated with startling black-and-white artwork.
No world is like the other. Within this masterful collection, each setting is more strange and wonderful than the last, brimming with new technologies and beings. And yet, for all the advances in these futuristic lands, the people still must confront deeply human problems.
In these six stories, Veronica Roth reaches into the unknown and draws forth something startlingly familiar and profoundly beautiful.
With tales of friendship and revenge, plus two new stories from the Carve the Mark universe, this collection has something for new and old fans alike. Each story begins with a hope for a better end, but always end with a better understanding of the beginning.
With beautifully intricate black-and-white interior illustrations and a uniquely designed package, this is the perfect gift for book lovers.
Inertia
This one was a tad lacking. I know it’s a short story but we got basically no world building & no character development. The story is mainly about this friendship/romance and that’s really it. I like the idea of the world but would of much preferred a different story in this world than the basic romance we got. I did like the rep for depression though. I thought that was quite well done but that was the only real upside of this story. So far not a great start to the short story collection
The Spinners
This one was a bit more promising. I quite enjoyed this one, including the world, the characters and the scheme of it. I would definitely continue reading if this story was longer. The concept of the world is also super unique, which was the case for most of these stories. There is a lot of originality in the concepts.
Hearken
This one is definitely the best of the 6 I think. The world was super interesting and unique, I loved the whole idea of the world and we got a decent amount of world building even though it was a short story. The MC and other characters also felt more fleshed out and full in this one compared to the other stories. Would continue reading this one for sure.
Vim and Vigor
Vim & Vigor was a pretty good story too. I really liked the technology that was mentioned, it sounds super interesting. I also enjoyed that this had a theme of friendship which was prominent. The world & characters were a little lacking though. So not my favourite.
Armored Ones
This was easily the worst of the collection. There was no world building and the characters were extremely flat. This one was also confusing too, which made it impossible to follow. I found myself thinking ‘what was the point of that?!’ when I got to the end. Just overall meh.
The Transformationist
This was also not fabulous. I was left confused and underwhelmed with this one. Just an overall lack of development throughout.
Overall
Overall this short story collection was all over the place for me. I had 2 good stories, 2 okay stories and 2 just meh stories. I can’t say I would recommend this one as there were just too many average or below average books for me to say ‘YES! You need to read this!’… I think my enjoyment for Veronica Roth books started and finished with the Divergent series unfortunately because everything else I have read from her has been either disappointing or just straight out confusion.
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Title:Â Nyxia Unleashed Author:Â Scott Reintgen Series:The Nyxia Triad Genre:Â YA SciFi Publication Date:Â July 17th, 2018 Pages:Â 390 Publishers:Â Penguin (Michael Joseph) Rating:
Goodreads Synopsis
Scott Reintgen’s sensational dystopian series is back!
Emmett Atwater has bravely survived the voyage through space but his troubles have only just begun. As he resists the power of Babel he realises that he’s found himself in a game far more dangerous than he could ever imagine . . .
This series is just getting better and better with each book! I absolutely love how chaotic these books are. I can honestly say that I did not guess a single twist before it happens in this book. It is super unpredictable which is exactly what you want in a SciFi adventure story. The book is very well written and extremely gripping. You just don’t want to put it down. This one also ends on a cliff hanger which I do enjoy, but am now impatiently waiting to get my hands on Nyxia Uprising.
I also love the world of this story. Nyxia had some basis for the world building but in book 2 we are actually on a new world & learning a tonne about it. It was worked in well and not info dumpy. We were learning as the characters were learning, so that made it flow nicely and never felt too much or confusing. Also learning about a new species was super fun too. There is obviously more to learn in Nyxia Uprising about both the world & the species but we got a good amount of info in Nyxia Unleased.
The characters are also very well developed and grow throughout both Nyxia & Nyxia Unleashed. This book contains a lot of hardships and bad experiences for the characters but it is amazing seeing them develop because of those experiences. I also really enjoy the dual perspective of this book! It’s not often but it’s always super interesting when we get a peak at someone else’s POV.
Overall, I really enjoyed Nyxia Unleashed and I can thankfully say that I think it got me out of my reading slump, which is what I was hoping for! Some fast paced, SciFi & action is exactly what I needed to break the slump. I highly recommend this series so far & I can’t wait to get my hands on Nyxia Uprising. I’m just waiting for the release of it in the edition I own the others in which seems to be releasing in 2020, after the US editions released in 2019. I can’t even find an eBook for it or I would of purchased it straight away and kept reading!
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It’s nearly the end of the year! So it’s time to discuss the best & worst of 2019 as well as my stats and some anticipated books of 2020! For todays post we are going to be chatting about the Best 19 Books that I read in 2019! So let’s jump in.
Graphic Novels
Firstly we has Misfit City: Vol 1 which is a super fun action/adventure graphic novel. I had so much fun reading this Graphic Novel and I really need to grab the second volume! Check out my Review!
Next is Mooncakes, which I feel like nearly everyone by now should of at least heard of! This is a SUPER diverse YA paranormal Graphic Novel. It has a tonne of diversity in it including a character that wears a hearing aid, which is something I’m pretty sure I have not read the POV of before. The art is also just stunning in this graphic novel! I really hope we get a second book in this world at some point. Check out my Review!
Lastly for Graphic Novels I have Volume 1 & 2 of Heartstopper! This is a cute YA LGBT+ contemporary Graphic Novel. You guys should know by now that I am not a romance or contemporary reader but you also may know that for some reason I just love Alice Osemans’ writing and stories! It was the same for these graphic novels. They are cute and I enjoyed my self reading them. They are also the perfect in between book to break up the heavy fantasies and such that I am normally reading. I also like the simplistic Black & White art style. Checkout my Review!
Thriller & Horror & Mystery
Firstly for Thriller/Horror/Mystery we have Dare You To Lie which is an YA Mystery Thriller. I listened to this one on Audiobook and absolutely devoured it. It gripped me from the very beginning and basically listened to it all in 2 sittings. If you are looking for a YA thriller that will hook you in, is unpredictable and fast paced, then this is the one for you.
Then we have The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle which is an adult Thriller Mystery. This one I read very recently and it just absolutely hooked me. It has such an interesting premise and it’s one of those books that you need to go into knowing very little. Amazingly written, extremely unpredictable and very unique! Loved it. I am in the process of writing my review, so hopefully it will be up soon. So keep an eye out.
Next is Contagion which is an incredible YA SciFi Horror. I read this book in under 24 hours! I devoured it and just could not put it down! I had a break for a feed but that’s about it. This is a super creepy atmospheric book that will keep you guessing the entire time. It’s one of those books where you have no idea who to trust and it will keep you on the edge of your seat! Highly, highly recommend this book for SciFi fans. Check out my Review!
Lastly in this section we have goodreads.com/book/show/39893545-the-vanishing-stair which is a YA Contemporary Mystery. This is the second book to Truly Devious which I read twice last year and absolutely loved! This is a book that follows 2 mysteries, one that happened years ago & one current and is set in a remote boarding school. The mysteries intertwine and leave you guessing at every turn. I also love the MC of this story, Stevie, who is a true crime addict & also a fellow reader! I cannot wait for book 3, The Hand on the Wall, to release in January! You can bet I already have it pre-ordered. Check out my Review!
Dystopian
In this category we only have one book, The Song Rising which is a YA Dystopian Fantasy/SciFi novel. This is the third book to The Bone Season & The Mime Order which are books that I have read twice now and absolutely love. This world is so complex and detailed that it will just suck you in. Everything from the Characters to the Magic system is so well thought out and developed. It’s just such a well written book with a badass female main character and gripping plots! Highly recommend! I haven’t reviewed The Song Rising but I did review The Bone Season & The Mime Order back in 2017 if you wished to check those out.
Fantasy
This is a big section of course as fantasy is my main genre. So let’s jump into the first book, Crown of Coral and Pearl which is a YA Fantasy. This is a book that I hadn’t heard of before seeing it on NetGalley and it sounded super interesting so I requested it and got approved. I ended up absolutely loving this book! It’s another one that I just devoured! Reading late into the night because I didn’t want to put it down. It incorporates a really interesting setting, a chosen one/saving the town type trope and a really realistic main character. I also loved the mystery aspect that was thrown in towards the end. Both the characters & the world were very detailed and developed as well which was awesome. My only negative for this book was the InstaLove that happened but I was able to ignore that because the rest of the book was just so good! Check out my Review!
Next we have King of Fools which is the sequel to Ace of Shades in The Shadow Game series. This series & Amanda Foody’s works in general are just amazing! She has the ability to create such unique and detailed worlds and highly intricate magic systems. She is overall just an amazing writer and I have loved everything I have read by her! I cannot wait for Book 3, Queen of Volts to release September 2020! Check out my Review!
Then we have The Bone Charmer which is another book that I barely hear people talking about and hadn’t heard of until seeing it on NetGalley. Which is such a shame as it’s an amazing book! The Bone Charmer is another book with a super unique world & magic system. This one features bone magic and the magic system is very well developed & interesting. I also love that we follow parallel possible futures of the main character. It’s such an interesting concept & it was written SO WELL! I even noticed the MC was written differently in the 2 plot lines as she develops because of the things that she goes through in that specific plot. It is just so well written and I can’t wait for book 2, The Bone Thief which releases May 2020! Check out my Review!
Blood Heir is the first book in a new YA Fantasy trilogy and I absolutely can’t wait for the next 2 books! Book 2, Red Tigress currently doesn’t have a release date but I’m hoping we get info soon! This book is an Asian inspired fantasy that has awesome characters, interesting magic systems and is not afraid to be absolutely brutal! If you are looking for a light easy fantasy, then this is not the book for you! This book features a lot of death and has a main focus of indentured servitude in Asia. This book is incredibly written & very interesting. I enjoyed learning throughout this book & makes me keen to want to know more about this part of asian culture. I highly recommend checking out this book! Check out my Review!
Next we have Vardaesia which is the 5th book in The Medoran Chronicles. In 2019 I actually read Vardaesia twice, that’s how much I loved it. I read Vardaesia & then reread the entire series via audiobook when they released as Audible Exclusives earlier in the year. I absolutely adore this series and it’s one of my favourites of all time! This book features an amazing group of characters, a very fleshed out unique world & a plot that keeps you guessing. The series has everything from time travel to dragons and I just love it all so much! I haven’t reviewed Vardaesia but you can check out my reviews of the first 3 books in the series, Akarnae, Raelia & Draekora!
Now we have In an Absent Dream which is the 4th book in the Wayward Children series. This is part of a series but these books also can be read as standalones. This one follows a different character in a new portal fantasy world. In an Absent Dream wasn’t quite as good as Beneath the Sugar Sky which I read last year but it’s definitely up there. I just love learning about these unique magical worlds! The books are also super short which makes them quick easy reads but the author packs a tonne into those 200 pages! There is never much lacking when it comes to world building & character development even with the books being so short. Seanan McGuire is just an awesome writer and I can’t wait for book 5, Come Tumbling Down, which releases early January!
Finally in this category we have 3 books from the same series! Beastly Bones, Ghostly Echoes & The Dire King are books 2, 3 & 4 of the Jackaby series which is a YA Fantasy/Paranormal Mystery series. I love both mystery and fantasy so this series is a perfect combination for me. The characters are awesome, the plot is so unpredictable and sometimes the story is just so ridiculous but amazing. Just so well written, so fun and I just love it. I haven’t reviewed these 3 but I did review Book 1, Jackaby!
Contemporary
Onto the last category! Contemporary is a genre I don’t often read but when I do it’s because the book is dealing with a specific topic. Both of these books are extremely empowering & important books that deal with serious topics. They are also both very different.
On the Come Up deals with a black female character loves to rap and just wants to make enough to get out of the bad situation her family is in. I absolutely love Angie Thomas’s writing! She creates vivid worlds with amazing characters, tonnes of diversity & is not afraid to bring up topics that aren’t generally discussed. If you enjoyed The Hate U Give then you need to give On The Come Up a go! Check out my full Review!
I am Change is set in Uganda and features the struggles a teenage girls faces in that society. This book was eye opening and incredibly written. I highly recommend reading this book! It’s such an important topic that is not discussed often enough. Check out my full Review!
Finally! That is all the books on my 19 Best Books of 2019 list! I will be posting my Most Disappointing/Worst books of 2019 very soon! So keep an eye out.
Let me know what some of your favourite books of 2019 were! Or if you loved any of the books I listed.
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Title:Â House of Salt and Sorrow Author:Â Erin A Craig Genre:Â YA Fantasy/Mystery/Horror Publication Date:Â August 6th, 2019 Pages:Â 416 Publishers:Â Delacorte Rating:
Goodreads Synopsis
In a manor by the sea, twelve sisters are cursed.
Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor, a manor by the sea, with her sisters, their father, and stepmother. Once they were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls’ lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last—the plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, a slippery plunge—and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods.
Disturbed by a series of ghostly visions, Annaleigh becomes increasingly suspicious that the deaths were no accidents. Her sisters have been sneaking out every night to attend glittering balls, dancing until dawn in silk gowns and shimmering slippers, and Annaleigh isn’t sure whether to try to stop them or to join their forbidden trysts. Because who—or what—are they really dancing with?
When Annaleigh’s involvement with a mysterious stranger who has secrets of his own intensifies, it’s a race to unravel the darkness that has fallen over her family—before it claims her next.
Firstly, this was the first book I have finished in ages! Not only have I been super busy but I’ve also been in a reading slump. I’m still not out but this book was helpful as it was super gripping! I also haven’t written a review since the end of September. So please bare with me.
Let’s start with the negatives and get those out of the road. I had one main issue with House of Salt and Sorrow which was that certain parts felt a bit rushed. There were parts throughout that felt rushed and were hard to follow. I found myself having to reread sections to really understand what was going on. The ending also felt a bit rushed. There was all this build up and then it ends pretty quickly with not a tonne of problems.. The book still ended fine and it all made sense, but it could have been executed a bit better.
Now for the good stuff! This book is SUPER atmospheric and creepy. I loved the feel and setting of the book however, I would have enjoyed a map just so I could figure out the placement of certain places like Highmoor, the Mausoleum & the lighthouse. I also loved the premise and whole idea of this book. It was very unique and also really well developed, especially considering it is a standalone. This one actually worked really well as a standalone with everything wrapping up in the end. It was also mostly unpredictable. There were a couple little things I guessed but for the most part I was kept on my toes wanting to know what happens next. The characters were also really well done! All the sisters and step mother were very fleshed out. They all had their own feel and personalities that shown through. It did throw me off a couple times with the triplets. I kept thinking they were younger than they were because of how the other sisters referred to them and how they acted sometimes. Then we would get a reminder that they are actually like 15 or something like that. It just threw me off a couple times. I also really didn’t like Camille. I’m not sure if she was meant to be unlikable but she just rubbed me the wrong way..
So overall, I enjoyed House of Salt and Sorrow but it did have a few issues for me. I’m keen to see what Erin A. Craig comes out with next though! I’ll definitely be grabbing that one if it sounds interesting. Recommend if you’re a mystery, fantasy & horror fan as this book combines those 3 beautifully.
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Title:Â Immunity Series:Â Contagion Author:Â Erin Bowman Genre:Â YA Science Fiction Publication Date:Â July 2nd, 2019 Pages:Â 434 Publishers:Â Harper Teen Rating:
Goodreads Synopsis
Survivors of a deadly planetary outbreak take on a new, sinister adversary in the sequel to Contagion.
They thought their nightmare was over, but Thea, Coen, and Nova’s rescue was only the beginning. After being imprisoned on a ship they thought was their ticket to safety, it’s clear that the threat they left behind isn’t as distant as they’d hoped—and this time the entire galaxy is at risk.
Now that threat is about to be unleashed as an act of political warfare. To prevent an interstellar catastrophe, the survivors must harness the evil they faced on the planet Achlys and learn to wield the only weapon they have left: themselves.Â
So let’s start with the positives this time as I usually get the negatives out of the road first.
So to begin with there is just something about Erin Bowman’s writing that I find extremely gripping! I just couldn’t put the book down! Contagion I read in 1 day! While it took me a couple days for Immunity, that was more because I’m (hopefully) coming out of a reading slump and I was busy, so didn’t have a day to just dedicate to reading! Immunity was also fast paced and action packed, just as Contagion was! It was also unpredictable and I think those 3 things are what adds up to the book being very gripping! There is always something going on and there is always the anxious wait to find out what is going to happen next! I also really enjoyed the POV in Immunity. The multi POV is done very well. Each of the characters have their own unique voice within the writing of their sections. There was also a different POV that was separated from the main 4 which I really enjoyed. I won’t say who because that’s spoilers!
Now for the negatives. Which my main one is the genre! Contagion was a YA Horror with a Sci-Fi setting. It was creepy and atmospheric which just bought the story to life! Immunity on the other hand it just a Sci-Fi. It lost that Horror element which just gave it that push from a good book to a great book in Contagion! So that was disappointing. Then there was the ending which I just felt was unsatisfying. There was a bit of a big action scene but it felt slightly flat and then it was all over and the happily ever after part was happening. I just feel like there could of been so much more to the conclusion but as it is it just felt too easy!
So overall I still enjoyed Immunity but it definitely didn’t live up to Contagion! If this was a book on it’s own it probably would of worked well but as a conclusion to Contagion it just wasn’t on the right level. I’m super curious to see what Erin Bowman releases next and hopefully they live up to the level of Contagion.
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It has been four months since a mysterious obsidian stone fell into Kell’s possession. Four months since his path crossed with Delilah Bard. Four months since Prince Rhy was wounded, and since the nefarious Dane twins of White London fell, and four months since the stone was cast with Holland’s dying body through the rift–back into Black London.
Now, restless after having given up his smuggling habit, Kell is visited by dreams of ominous magical events, waking only to think of Lila, who disappeared from the docks as she always meant to do. As Red London finalizes preparations for the Element Games–an extravagant international competition of magic meant to entertain and keep healthy the ties between neighboring countries–a certain pirate ship draws closer, carrying old friends back into port.
And while Red London is caught up in the pageantry and thrills of the Games, another London is coming back to life. After all, a shadow that was gone in the night will reappear in the morning. But the balance of magic is ever perilous, and for one city to flourish, another London must fall.
So I may as well get my negative out of the road first and then we can look at the positives. The pacing & not being as action packed as expected was my 2 negatives. This book was fairly slow reading which was impacted by not only the pacing but with the minimal actual fast paced action.
Now as for the things I liked, firstly the word & the world development! The Shades of Magic world is very vivid & fleshed out. V.E. Schwab has a way of describing worlds that just come alive on the page and it’s one of my favourite things about her writing!
Then there was the POV. In this book we follow many POVs which is more than book 1 I believe. It’s been a long time since I read book 1 but I think it was only from 2 POV, I could be wrong though. Anyways, the multi POV in this one was done very well. The characters that we had many chapters from had a distinctive voice to the writing. They felt individual and the characters personality came through. I also just enjoyed that we had so many points of view. It added an interesting twist to the story line that we wouldn’t of gotten with just 1 or 2 POVs.
Next I really enjoyed the plot of this one! I hadn’t read a synopsis going in and I just loved this game/challenge aspect that was introduced. It was very different from book 1 but also had that underlying plot which has continued from book 1 which I enjoyed. Even though it didn’t fell super action packed the story itself was intriguing and I’m super keen to find out where this is all going!
Lastly we have the characters! Much like the world all the characters are very fleshed out and well developed. This was helped with having the multi POV as you get to learn about the characters from their own view point as well as the views of others. My favourite character is definitely Lila. She is just super interesting and stubborn and kinda badass and I love her! I do also of course love Kell but Lila is my fave.
So overall I really enjoyed this one and I’m keen to get to book 3, which I hoping will be a bit more action packed! Now I just need to read it soon rather than waiting a couple years like I did between books 1 & 2!
You can order a copy for yourself at any of the links below. There is an alternate cover and. they are marked by a * next to the format. See the alternate cover below!
You could also use my affiliate links for Book Depository if you would like to support this blog!
Some of the links on my blog are affiliate links. This does not change the price of your purchases, however, I receive a small commission if you use any of those links to make a purchase! Which I highly appreciate!
