All our yesterdays (ARC review)

All Our Yesterdays | Cristin Terrill
YA, Sci-Fi

Characters ★★★★★

Setting ★★★★★★

Writing Style ★★★★★

"You have to kill him." Imprisoned in the heart of a secret military base, Em has nothing except the voice of the boy in the cell next door and the list of instructions she finds taped inside the drain.

Only Em can complete the final instruction. She’s tried everything to prevent the creation of a time machine that will tear the world apart. She holds the proof: a list she has never seen before, written in her own hand. Each failed attempt in the past has led her to the same terrible present—imprisoned and tortured by a sadistic man called the doctor while war rages outside. 

Marina has loved her best friend James since the day he moved next door when they were children. A gorgeous, introverted science prodigy from one of America’s most famous families, James finally seems to be seeing Marina in a new way, too. But on one disastrous night, James’s life crumbles apart, and with it, Marina’s hopes for their future. Now someone is trying to kill him. Marina will protect James, no matter what. Even if it means opening her eyes to a truth so terrible that she may not survive it. At least not as the girl she once was. 

All Our Yesterdays is a wrenching, brilliantly plotted story of fierce love, unthinkable sacrifice, and the infinite implications of our every choice.

REVIEW

Complex, consuming, pure brilliance.

Em and Finn have been imprisoned and tortured for information. Their world, changed beyond repair by a time travel device named Cassandra, is devoid of hope. Their only chance to save it is to travel backwards in time and stop the man who created it - who just happens to have been their closest friend, and their deadliest foe.

Marina, a girl some years in the past, is in love with her best friend James and for a split second she thinks he might feel the same way. But then James's brother Nate is shot, and James begins to turn into someone Marina doesn't recognise.

All Our Yesterdays has blown me away. I expected something captivating and amazing and my expectations were shot through the roof. This book goes above and beyond any time travel novel I have previously read, and any young adult novel I have read of this genre. 

The plot is outstanding, complicated, and everything I never knew I needed until now. The characters are diverse, compelling, and draw you into such strong emotions you'll be weeping. Em and Marina are both fierce, strong, and unwilling to back down from their morals and loyalties. 

The way both plots - and timelines - are weaved together is seamless, and elements of the story were tied together in ways I didn't see coming, but totally should have. Terrill is a genius.

I think I might just ... go read this book again. Right now ...

A-Z survey

This bookish survey was posted over at The Perpetual Page Turner and is pretty cool. I'm also in a kind of bogged-down area where I'm not blogging or scheduling posts as often as I used to, and I guess this is just a fun way to mix up the content and break up the reviews :)

Author you’ve read the most books from:

Tie between Maggie Stiefvater and Cassandra Clare. I love both of them so much, and they both shaped the way I read and write - and have wrote a TONNE of books.

Best Sequel Ever:

This question pains me. How am I supposed to choose between Prodigy by Marie Lu, The Evolution of Mara Dyer, and Insurgent by Veronica Roth.

Currently Reading:

The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima, sequel to The Demon King. I've kind of slumped with this around the 25% mark, but I did the same with TDK at around 50% so I'm gonna keep going. I'm also reading All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill which is super amazing even though I'm only 7% into it.

Drink of Choice While Reading:

I don't tend to drink and read at the same time, but if I do it'll be a drink of whatever can of Coca Cola I have at hand.

E-reader or Physical Book?

Both have their place with me. I love e-books because you can gets books instantly and don't have to wait to go into town or for books to be delivered. But I also love physical because there's just something about a real book.

Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated In High School:

Uh, well it's more of whether the character would have dated me, but probably Ky Markham, from the Matched series by Ally Condie. The books might have been disastrous but I still love my Ky.

Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr!! I only finished this a couple of days ago but it blew me into next year.

Hidden Gem Book:

Teen Human by Sarah Rees Brennan and Justine Larbalestier. Comedic, parody gold. Vampires at their best. Go read it.

Important Moment in your Reading Life:

Reading The Mortal Instruments. Had I not read them, thanks to tumblr and the Idris tag I was tracking for Doctor Who, I would never have given TMI a chance, and I would never be the author or reader I am.

 Just Finished:

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr.

Kinds of Books You Won’t Read:

Erotica, contemporary romance. Not for me.

Longest Book You’ve Read:

The Host by Stephanie Meyer.

(** easy way to find this out. Go to your Goodreads “read” list, don’t scroll down but where you are on the screen there will be this little tab on the bottom that lets you choose how you want to scroll or how many books you want display. There is also a sort option with a drop down and you can sort by page.)

Major book hangover because of:

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. I've never had a hangover so bad. I didn't know what to do with myself, didn't want to read anything else so I read it twice. If it hadn't been for The Raven Boys saving me, I don't know what I'd have done. Probably reread it for the third time.

Number of Bookcases You Own:

One. But SOON I will have more.

One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:

Legend by Marie Lu. My favourite book.

Preferred Place To Read:

In bed.

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:

"It's late for that"

Scorpio Races by Maggie (again). I cry every fricking time.

Reading Regret:

That I didn't get into reading like I am now sooner. I was a casual reader. Three books a year, max. And now I am an obsessive reader and it has just enhanced my life and made me so much happier.

Series You Started And Need To Finish(all books are out in series):

Uhhhhhhhhhh Delirium series by Lauren Oliver. I have all three books on my shelf, but have read only a quarter of Pandemonium. It was the lack of Alex until the last page (yes, I read the last page) that made me sort of give up on it. But I'm gonna finish the series. At some point.

Three of your All-Time Favorite Books:

Legend by Marie Lu, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle, The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan

Unapologetic Fangirl For:

ALL OF THE SARAH REES BRENNAN BOOKS. EVERYONE GO READ SRB'S BOOKS. DO IT NOW.

Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:

GOD. Control by Lydia Kang. Killing me not to say Untold or The Dream Thieves, but Control is the book I just NEED.

Worst Bookish Habit:

Reading the last page. This is kinda why I like ebooks - it's harder to skip ahead.

X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:

Angelfall by Susan Ee

Your latest book purchase:

Ha. I just bought seventeen books. I'm not listing them, but there were A LOT of amazing books.

ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):

Wicked Lovely. I lost so many hours because of this book.

Wicked Lovely (review)

Wicked Lovely: Wicked Lovely | Melissa Marr
YA, Urban Fantasy, Mythology

Characters ★★★★★

Setting ★★★★☆

Writing Style ★★★★★

Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.
Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in the mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty - especially if they learn of her Sight - and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.
Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.
But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King, who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost — regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.

Faery intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr's stunning twenty-first-century faery tale.

REVIEW

Spellbinding, beautiful, deadly.

Wicked Lovely captivated me from the start. I was swept into a tale of danger, beauty, and the vibrant lore of the fair folk. As someone who is usually less than impressed by books with fairies, I was surprised to find myself in love with this book, and I discovered that I don't dislike all fairy books, but dislike when they are done badly. (I should probably point out that I began this series because I got the first book cheap, and also because the covers are stunning and purple. So I'd like to thank the cover designer for drawing me into this perfect world. All the awards, my friend, you should have them.)

What I loved about this book was that it took the original lore of the fae and it did it justice. The fairies weren't dainty, vapid, harmless creatures like most books I've attempted to read portray them. Melissa did fae well, capturing the true darkness of them and delivering a story that was new and old, anxiety-inducing and wondrous. The fairies of Wicked Lovely felt genuine, unlike most I have read in the past.

I am thoroughly impressed and hooked into this series. My heart has swelled, but been equally crushed. I have felt utter despair and desperation, but also exhilaration and adoration for every character in this book. Well. Perhaps not you Beira, you cruel, heartless, perfect antagonist. But Keenan and Donia, Aislinn and Seth - I loved them all, felt for them all, and needed them all happy and safe (*screeches* my babies!)

Four for you, Melissa Marr. You go Melissa Marr.

Instagram: Carrier of The Mark

Found this today in Oxfam for £1.99. It's barely used, there's one mark on the spine, and it's a first! I enjoy having firsts, just for the novelty. Heard good things about this book.

Falling Kingdoms (One line review)

Falling Kingdoms: Falling Kingdoms | Morgan Rhodes
YA, High Fantasy, Paranormal

Characters ★★★★★

Setting ★★★★☆

Writing Style ★★★☆☆

In a land where magic has been forgotten but peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest is simmering. Three kingdoms grapple for power—brutally transforming their subjects' lives in the process. Amidst betrayals, bargains, and battles, four young people find their fates forever intertwined:

Cleo: A princess raised in luxury must embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of a magic long thought extinct.

Jonas: Enraged at injustice, a rebel lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country impoverished—and finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making.

Lucia: A girl adopted at birth into a royal family discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Magnus: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, a firstborn son begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword. . . .

The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?

REVIEW

Enchanting high fantasy with a brilliantly woven plot and vividly detailed world.

Book Fashion Friday - Prodigy

This week's BFF is inspired by Prodigy by Marie Lu!

I wasn't originally going to do Prodigy but I found this dress and it just reminded me of it so much.

The cover:

The fashion:

Same blue cover, the photo and angle of the spread dress looks like the wings of the bird on the cover. I just thought it was perfect.

Available here for $149