Warm Tea Reads

I love reading all kinds of books, and this is the place where I share my thoughts on what I have read.

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

Three Dark Crowns - Kendare Blake

A brief description of the book; Three Dark Crowns is about 3 sisters who each have a different magical ability, they are separated when they are kids and aided by different supporters, all with the intent to be Queen, but they have to fight each other until there is only one left as the Queen. 

 

Mirabella is an elemental, Katherine is a poisoner and Arsinoe is a naturalist.

 

Read the full synopsis on Goodreads here 

 

I don't often give books 5 star, but I really couldn't find anything I disliked about this book.

 

It was quite focused on character and world building at the start of the book so moves a little slow, but it is written beautifully and its very engaging. It really picks up and I couldn't put it down. 

 

I really enjoyed that it is written from third person perspective following each of the sisters, and a few of the other characters. 

 

I really don't want to say too much and ruin the experience for anyone, I had gone into this only having read the synopsis and avoiding everyone's reviews and I think that was the perfect way to read it. It is such an epic roller coaster of a book and shows a darker side to fantasy then what you usually see. It has so many twists that I never saw coming!! 

 

I would recommend everyone gives this a go, but especially if you're looking for a fantasy that's quite unique and darker then usual, I'm really looking forward to the next book!

 

If you have read this and want to share your thoughts please leave a comment below or send me a message. :) 

The Duff - Movie

So I just watched The Duff movie....

 

It's good as a movie, but I loved the book and really hate how some things were changed or missed out. 

 

The two main points that were changed that annoyed me were;

 

1. In the Book Bianca lives with her dad, in the movie she's with her mum, which I really didn't like as I found it really interesting to read about the dynamic between Bianca and her dad.

 

2. I preferred the relationship between Bianca, Jessica and Casey the way it is portrayed in the book, in the movie she has a go at them and then just ignores them the whole time until the end, I know in the book she ditches them quite a bit for Wesley but it wasn't the same.

 

Overall, it wasn't a bad movie, but they made so many changes to the plot of the book.

 

If any of you have watched the movie or read the book, I would be interested to hear your thoughts on it.

 

 

 

 

Red Queen By Victoria Aveyard

Red Queen - Victoria Aveyard

Short Review;

Wow, absolutely incredible, this had me hooked from the first chapter.

 

Long Review;

Synopsis;

"This world is divided by blood - red or silver

 

Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change."

 

All the betrayal and the fact that you never really know who you can trust was really interesting to read and you're in the same position where you don't know who's really on which side, and man that ending, it was just shocking I never saw that coming at all, I felt like I had been kicked in the gut, I can't believe we have to wait until 2016 for the next book!

 

I didn't want to give too much away in the review, as I think it's best to go into this one without knowing, so pick it up and give it a go. If you've already read it and want to chat, hit me up!

SPOILER ALERT!

The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski (Winner's Trilogy Book 2)

The Winner's Crime - Marie Rutkoski

**Spoiler's to the Winner's Curse**

 

Short Review;

Much like the Winner's Curse I found this a bit slow to start but it picks up after a little and ends on one hell of a cliff hanger!

 

Long Review;

At the end of The Winner's Curse Kestrel makes a deal with the emperor to save Arin, she will marry his son, Verex. 

 

I can't believe the different direction this book took, it is completely a step up from the first book. The romance is muted in this book by everything else, all the deceit, lies, and manipulations. And you finally get to see a bit more into Kestrel & Arin and how they both think.

 

I really love how the characters are portrayed, and so beautifully written, I said this when I finished the first book, but you really get a feel for each character even the horrible ones, that just makes this so fantastic to read.

 

I can't believe the ending of this book, and even worse the expected publication for book 3 isn't until 2016!!

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

Since You've Been Gone - Morgan Matson

Short Review;

I enjoyed this, it was entertaining to read however I wasn't really attached to any of the characters.

 

Long Review;

Goodreads Summary;

he Pre-Sloane Emily didn't go to parties, she barely talked to guys, she didn't do anything crazy. Enter Sloane, social tornado and the best kind of best friend—the one who yanks you out of your shell.

But right before what should have been an epic summer, Sloane just… disappears. No note. No calls. No texts. No Sloane. There’s just a random to-do list. On it, thirteen Sloane-selected-definitely-bizarre-tasks that Emily would never try… unless they could lead back to her best friend.

Apple Picking at Night? Okay, easy enough.

Dance until Dawn? Sure. Why not?

Kiss a Stranger? Wait… what?

Getting through Sloane’s list would mean a lot of firsts. But Emily has this whole unexpected summer ahead of her, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected) to check things off. Who knows what she’ll find?

 

I really liked the whole idea of this book, Emily going on a quest following the list left and trying to figure out what happened to Sloane.

 

The thing that let it down for me was that I really didn't like the super long flashbacks every chapter, I found myself getting bored and skipping parts to get back to the good stuff. It was worth the read though, and I think it will turn into an amazing movie.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer Smith

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight - Jennifer E. Smith

Goodreads Summary;

 

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. Having missed her flight, she's stuck at JFK airport and late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be stepmother Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's sitting in her row.

A long night on the plane passes in the blink of an eye, and Hadley and Oliver lose track of each other in the airport chaos upon arrival. Can fate intervene to bring them together once more?

Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

 

This was a quick read, it was light and fluffy with basically everything ending in a nice little bow.

 

I felt there was a lack of chemistry between Oliver & Hadley and mostly quite predictable. I didn't like or connect with any secondary characters and they all fell a little flat with no real dimension to them.

 

If your looking for a light read with everything ending in a neat little package then perhaps you will feel differently.

SPOILER ALERT!

This is What Happy Looks Likes by Jennifer E. Smith

This is What Happy Looks Like - Jennifer E. Smith

I wasn't blown away by this at all, and I found myself skimming paragraphs and just wanting to get to the end.

 

Summary;

When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.

Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs? (summary taken from Goodreads)

 

Reading the synopsis i thought it would be a bit like Stephanie Perkins Anna and the French Kiss novels but I was mistaken, there's nothing "wrong" with the story but it didn't feel like it particularly went anywhere either.

 

**Mini Spoilers Here**

 

The book is either Ellie walking around town with Graham or her contemplating going to find her father and at the end of the book she's still just sitting around chatting to Graham and hasn't really gotten anywhere with her dad. I was kinda like well what was the point?

 

With the high ratings on Goodreads I thought this would have been much better.

That in mind I would suggest making up your own mind on if this book is for you.

I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson

I'll Give You the Sun - Jandy Nelson

Not quite sure how to review this.

 

I loved Noah's POV and was completely and totally emersed on those chapters, but I got a bit lost and ended up completely skimming Jude's chapters.

 

I think I would have prefered if it was told from one POV only. However it was a good read and I think if it sounds interesting to you, you should pick it up and give it a go.

 

 

Steths: Cognition by Karl Fields

Steths: Cognition (Steths Book 1) - Karl Fields

I received a copy of this from a giveaway here on booklikes.

 

Short Review;

Wow, this is so completely different from anything I have read before, it was fantastic I just wish it was longer! 

 

Long Review;

I had never heard of this book until I stumbled across it on here, and now its time to spread the word.

 

Say the phrase No two are ever alike, and most think of snowflakes or fingerprints. But Steths, with their ability to hear heartbeats – and the emotions within them – know that each one of those is unique as well.

Sixteen-year-old Devin Chambers wants nothing more than a football scholarship, his ticket to a life beyond the hardscrabble neighborhood he calls home. But it’s his abilities as a Steth that get him noticed by the prestigious Faulkner Academy.

Being a “Faulkner man” means a life of privilege and influence. In the wrong hands, it also means having the power to destroy lives, as Devin learns when he encounters a man being framed for terrorism. He hears innocence in the man’s heart, but it’s a belief no one else shares, and he’ll have to risk his new life and bright future to save a condemned man from the death penalty. (taken from Goodreads)

 

This starts out a little slow, there's a fair bit of character and world building which I enjoyed and sets up some good ground work for the next book. There better be a next book by the way.

 

I really love how some of the characters have supernatural gifts but they aren't ridiculously unbelievable, given evolution these types of things may be possible at some stage, its far more likely then being able to shoot lasers from your eyes at least.

 

I loved the characters in this, they are so well written and I got surprisingly attached to Devin and Travis, when they had a little bro fight I was so devastated!

 

I don't want to give to much away as this was fantastic not knowing at all where it was going, so give it a go, if you like books like The Athena Effect by Derrolyn Anderson or the Bloom trilogy by A.P Kensey then I think you will absolutely enjoy this.

 

Also, that ending, my god please say there's a book 2.

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

A Discovery of Witches - Deborah Harkness

The first couple of chapters were pretty good and I was excited for what seemed to be a promising witch book.

 

I want to say nothing happened but that's not entirely true, stuff did happen but it wasn't engaging or there was unnecessary filler between the interesting stuff.

 

I really didn't enjoy this at all, I found myself skipping pages and skimming most of the end.

To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

To All the Boys I've Loved Before - Jenny Han

This is my first Jenny Han book and with all the hype I had read and seen lately I was super excited to get into this book.

 

Short Review;

I didn't realise until I had to stop reading just how immersed I had become with this story, and I found myself itching to get back and finish it.

 

Long Review;

I'm sure most of you will know what this is about, but here's a quick synopsis

 

This is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all. (excerpt from Goodreads).

 

I love how the relationships are portrayed in this book, not just the ones between Lara and her crushes, but the family dynamics as well.

 

If you like contemporary I think you should go pick this up and give it a go. Don't go spoiling yourself and reading more reviews. Go now. I'll wait right here. (:

Love, Rosie by Cecilia Ahern

Love, Rosie - Cecelia Ahern

I didn't really enjoy this book at all.

 

In the beginning it was quite interesting and funny reading through notes from Rosie in her childhood and becoming a teen.

 

But that's where to good stuff ends, the rest of the book I felt was just a mash of Rosie complaining, making stupid choices and staying completely infatuated with someone she couldn't have for the entire book.

 

That and with the format of the book - its written as notes/ letters and emails between characters and the slow pace it drags a bit and I found myself not really caring what happens to Rosie as long as it happens soon.

 

Still it was interesting to read something in a different format, and perhaps someone older that has been through similar situations (kids, marriage etc) may relate better and find it enjoyable.

The Pirate's Wish by Cassandra Rose Clarke

The Pirate's Wish - Cassandra Rose Clarke

Short Review:

This duology was amazing! I loved the characters and the adventure.

 

Long Reivew:

The Assassin's Curse (book 1) we meet Ananna of Tanarau, she is the daughter of a pirate capitin who has tried to marry her off to another pirate clan, due to this Ananna runs away, this causes the pirate clan she was suppose to join to send an assassin after her.

 

One night they run into each other and she accidentally activates a curse binding them together, to break the spell Aanna and the Assassin must complete the impossible tasks --all while grappling with evil wizards, floating islands, haughty manticores, runaway nobility, strange magic.

 

This was a fast past interesting read, it is so different from anything I have read before, and would highly recommended for anyone looking for something different and exciting or if you love any pirate-y.

 

I love the characters, and the strange magical creatures.

 

Give it a go!!

 

 

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

Isla and the Happily Ever After - Stephanie Perkins

Short Review;

WOW. This book. Oh them feels!

Loved it! definitely worth the wait. Just wish it wasn't over, I love all 3 of the Anna and the French Kiss companion novels.

 

Long Review;

I'm sure everyone is aware of what Isla and the Happily Ever after is about, but just in case....

 

Isla and the Happily Ever After is the third book in the Anna and the French Kiss companion novels, Isla has had a crush on Josh since their first year at School of America in Paris as they begin their senior year back in France, Isla and Josh are forced to confront the challenges every young couple must face, including family drama, uncertainty about their college futures, and the very real possibility of being apart.

 

This was beautiful, heart wrenching, funny and just amazing. Such an amazing way to end the series.


From the beginning to about half way through I was hoping for a bit more of an appearance of Anna and St Clair, or Lola & Cricket, but after finishing it, it didn't need it.

 

This is a perfect contemporary read for any day.

The Winner’s Curse by Marie Ruthoski

The Winner's Curse (Winner's Trilogy, #1) - Marie Rutkoski

Short Review;
This was fantastic, it’s a bit slow to start but it really picks up. This was beautifully written.

 

Long Review;


The Winner’s Curse follows the general’s daughter Kestrel who is seventeen, she has to choose between joining the military or getting married.

 

What I really enjoyed about this book was even though it was semi focused romance novel there was no instalove, even as you read further and feel like there might be something between them they both keep a logical outlook on everything.

 

While all this is going on there is also a war which they both have stakes in whether it be in the form of family/ friends or loyalty to their leaders and country.

 

I really loved how each character was written, even the horrible/ mean characters were written beautifully and they are all believable.

 

I would highly recommend this to anyone that’s into fantasy/ historical

When Dogs Cry by Markus Zusak (AKA Getting the Girl)

When Dogs Cry - Markus Zusak

Short Review;

 

This was amazing, reminded me of The Messenger, the main character had the same kind of feel when reading, I loved this, highly recommend especially if you liked The Messenger.

 

Long Review;

 

This is the 3rd book in the companion Wolfe Brothers books, I haven’t read the other 2 yet, I don’t think you need to read the other ones at all before you pick this up, it might help understand the family dynamics a little better but it was easy enough as a standalone.

 

Cameron Wolfe is hungry. He's sick of being the filthy, torn, half-smiling, half-scowling underdog. He's finally met a girl. He's got words in his spirit. And now he's out to prove that there's nothing more beautiful than an underdog who's willing to stand up. (synopsis taken from goodreads).

 

I really loved how Cameron longed to be more than he was, he wanted to prove to everyone that he wasn’t a looser that just follows Ruben around.
You also see the family love especially the brotherly love Cam & Ruben have for each other and they’re always there even if they don’t say much.

 

I love Zusak’s writing, I couldn’t put this down and when it was finished, I was sad, I want more.

 

I would recommend this to anyone.

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