A Throne of Swans - Katherine & Elizabeth Corr

The flighted rule, and the flightless are little more than servants. Now that Aderyn's father has died, leaving her as protector of Atratys, if anyone discovered she has lost her ability to fly she would lose her dominion and everything her father worked for. After being kept at home ever since her mother's death, now she decides it is time to go to court and see more of the world. But she has no idea of the dangers she will have to face. 

No one in the book was was really what they seemed, nearly all the characters had hidden depths to them. Either appearing soft, simple, or arrogant but often turning out completely differently. I feel like I was doubting everyone, any time Aderyn decided to trust someone I thought they would betray her so I was on the edge of my seat through most of the book. 

I could not stop thinking about this book and it's characters every time I put the book down. I want to know more about Aderyn's father and his motivations. I feel like his character was left quite unfinished. I was so relieved that there was a satisfying ending, I was terrified of being left hanging, Now I am desperate to get my hands on book two which already has a name, A Crown of Talons. If that doesn't sound intriguing I don't know what does!

Thanks to Hot Key Books I was lucky enough to be invited to the bloggers brunch to meet the authors and I had the best time! We got to ask all our questions and learned quite a lot about Katherine & Elizabeth, the book and their writing. The book was inspired by Swan Lake and wanting to work through the black swan's motivations. Lots of the names in the book are clues to the type of bird the family turns into such as Hawkin and Swifting. For Katherine, Aderyn was the hardest character to write while Elizabeth found Lucien more difficult. Tons of research goes into the books, including visits to National Trust buildings and deciding all sorts of things about their characters, such as their birthdays. Most of which doesn't even make it into the book but helps with the writing process. But the most important thing is not to ask them about corridors!

The perfect cocktail to sip on while reading is the Last Flight. In a shaker with ice, mix together 2/3 shot of each of these ingredients: bourbon, green chartreuse, aperol and lemon juice.

Believe in the Impossible Readathon (part 2)

I really enjoyed taking part in the Believe in the Impossible Readathon and managed to read the group book, all 10 prompts, plus an additional 4 books. 15 books... I'm so proud of myself! It was so much fun and I loved sharing my reading with friends and everyone else taking part in Believathon. I'm also grateful to have had the push to read so many great books, I probably wouldn't have got through all of these otherwise.

These are the books I chose for each prompt and any additional prompts the books cover: 

Group book - Frostheart by Jamie Littler

A strong sense of friendship - Cookie! ...and the Most Annoying Boy in the World by Konnie Huq 

Re-read your personal childhood favourite - Marianne Dreams by Catherine Storr (also friendship, atmospheric/creepy, past)

Featuring an animal character - Fly by Night by Frances Hardinge

A classic - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (also magic, animal)

Featuring magic - Tilly and the Lost Fairytales by Anna James (also friendship)

Featuring a myth or legend - The Burning Maze by Rick Riordan (also friendship)

Atmospheric or creepy - Tunnel of Bones by Victoria Schwab (also friendship, past)

Seasonal - Father Christmas’s Fake Beard by Terry Pratchett

Real life issues - Deenie by Judy Blume (also friendship, past)

Set in the past - Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens (also friendship)

I also had time to squeeze in these additional books:

The Worst Witch Saves the Day by Jill Murphy (magic, friendship, animal)

The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend (magic, friendship, seasonal, myth/legend)

Seven Ghosts by Chris Priestley (atmospheric/creepy, past)

The Good Thieves by Katherine Rundell (real life issues, friendship, past)

Here are some short reviews for just a few of the books, I've reviewed all of them on Goodreads if you're interested in any of the others:

Frostheart by Jamie Littler

Ash's parents are pathfinders and left the stronghold on a mission when he was a child, but they never returned. He's sure they are still alive somewhere and has never given up hope that he would see them again. All his life he's been hiding his urge to sing, as Song Weavers are feared and reviled, despite having the power to fight back against the monsters that attack them every time anyone leaves the town.

I enjoyed the book but it didn't really keep me gripped until the last few chapters when I didn't want to put it down! I really wanted to find out what would happen to Ash but found it hard to stay in the book at times. I loved the illustrations and the characters.

Marianne Dreams by Catherine Storr

When Marianne gets ill and confined to bed rest, she discovers a magic pencil. Whatever she draws, appears in her dreams that night. But is she creating her dreams or is there more to it than that?

I was so happy to find I still enjoyed this book after so many years, though the language was a little old fashioned. Not disappointing even after so much time.

Tilly and the Lost Fairytales by Anna James

Something or someone is messing with fairy tales. As Tilly's grandparents warn her, fairy tales have always been a bit unstable, but now characters are getting mixed up and different versions are blending into each other. Nothingness and plot holes are spreading while book magic leaks out. Tilly feels like it is up to her to find the cause and discover what Melville Underwood, the mysterious new Head Librarian, is up to.

I enjoyed book 1 but felt like it was mostly scene-setting, this second book had a lot more substance and I really got immersed in the adventures. I love the idea of bookwandering, it would be such a wonderful thing to do. My only complaint is that I thought I had a few pages left of the book and it suddenly ended with a cliffhanger!

The Good Thieves by Katherine Rundell

When Vita finds out her grandfather has been tricked out of his beloved castle, she is determined to do something, anything to help. But going against Victor Sorrotore is a terrifying prospect and Vita needs to recruit some very talented people to help her.

The writing is wonderful and there are some very clever twists in the story. I am so glad I got to read this book, it deserves all the wonderful reviews and awards it has had.

Just a very simple drink today. Vita's emerald necklace in The Good Thieves had me craving a shot of lovely emerald green Apple sourz on ice. If you want a longer drink, it does taste good with a little tonic too!

The Little Book of Lykke - Meik Wiking

#LookForLykke

As CEO of The Happiness Research Institute, based in Denmark (often called the world's happiest country), Meik Wiking is ideally placed to take us on a treasure hunt for Lykke, happiness. He takes us through plenty of research into the things that make people happy all over the world. Chapters explore the 6 key factors in the World Happiness Report - togetherness, money, health, freedom, trust and kindness. In each there is evidence and information about what Meik has discovered. Plus lots of ways we can bring a bit more lykke into our lives.

One of my favourite things I've learned is that libraries in Ancient Egypt and Greece used to have signs saying that you were entering a healing place for the soul. As a book lover I can completely believe this! 

The book inspired me in so many ways, to look up volunteering opportunities and set up apps such as Be My Eyes, which helps blind and partially sighted people. It made me want to get out in nature and do more walking. Take the scenic route rather than just the quickest. I really enjoyed finding out about happiness in different countries. I listened to an audio copy from the library but now I really want my own copy! I also plan to read Meik's earlier work, The Little Book of Hygge.

Obviously the perfect drink while contemplating happiness is a full on hot chocolate with all the trimmings. Make your favourite and top however you like. I may have gone a bit over the top with whipped cream, marshmallows, sprinkles and edible glitter!

Cookie! ...and the Most Annoying Boy in the World - Konnie Huq

Everything is going wrong, her best friend is moving away, her parents won't let her have a pet, and she's forced to sit next to the new boy at school. How is Cookie going to survive the year??? Luckily there's a chance to go on her favourite TV show, Brainbusters. All she has to do is put her science knowledge to good use and come up with the best science project. It'll be easy for the smartest girl in the class.

Of course, not everything goes smoothly and she finds herself in constant competition with the most annoying boy in the world, who unfortunately happens to be quite clever too. But maybe that means there's some hope for him yet!

You just can't help liking Cookie. She's tough and funny and impulsive, but never ashamed to admit when she's wrong. I think she's a wonderful role model for girls of all ages, including any adults reading the book! While being easy to read and understand, the book isn't childish at all. I think it will be just as enjoyable for adults reading aloud to younger kids.

Cookie! is so much fun to read. It's full of wonderful little doodles throughout the book that add to the humour and there's a great appendix at the end with instructions for all the experiments they do in the book. You'll want to try them all.

I've created Cookie's cocktail (for when she's a little older)! In a shaker, mix together one shot of vanilla vodka, 1/2 shot chambord and 3/4 shot lemon juice. Add a dash of chocolate cookie syrup and a couple of drops of chocolate bitters. Shake with ice and pour into a glass.

Believe in the Impossible Readathon

I heard about this readathon on twitter and it sounded like so much fun. It's been quite a long time since I took part in a readathon or reading challenge and I was immediately interested in this one. I've persuaded a couple of my book buddies to join in too (@SophiaZarifis and @PagliSi) so hopefully we'll be able to discuss some of the same books.

The readathon is run by Gavin (@TheGavGav7) and runs through November on @Believathon. It consists of a group book, Frostheart by Jamie Littler, and 10 prompts. There's a very cool compendium with instructions and all the prompts as well as suggestions in case you can't think of a book to fit any of them.

Some of the prompts and my possible reading:

A book featuring magic - Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend. I've had this book for a while and this is the perfect chance to read it.

An atmospheric or creepy book - Tunnel of Bones by Victoria Schwab. I enjoyed the first book, City of Ghosts, but a lot of it was scene setting so I think this one will be even better.

A book featuring an animal character - Fly by Night by Frances Hardinge, I've already read some of her other books but this is her first and I think a homicidal goose should fit in well with this prompt.

Re-read your personal childhood favourite - this can only be Marianne Dreams by Catherine Storr. I've never forgotten this book but somehow haven't re-read as an adult. (This one fits the creepy or atmospheric prompt too).

I also have a pile of other options plus many more on my kindle. I just have to figure out where then can all fit. Hopefully I can complete all the prompts, this will definitely help me with my towering TBR (to be read) and may save me from being crushed when it inevitably topples over me. I might have bought one or two (five) books for this too...

If you want to get involved, make sure you give @TheGavGav7 and @Believathon a follow and use the hashtag #Believathon if you want to share any of your reading. Look out for my updates on twitter and I'll update at the end of the month!

While I search through these piles of books, I've created a 'Believe in the Ginpossible'! Pour a double gin into a glass, add some blue shimmer and a dash of lavender syrup. Throw in lots of ice and stir, then add tonic to taste.

Shadows - R.J. Furness

(Sapphire Smyth & The Shadow Five #1)

Have you ever seen something you can’t explain? Did it vanish as fast as it appeared?

Perhaps that thing you saw was lurking in the shadows, and you caught a glimpse of it before it went back into hiding.

There’s a good chance, of course, that the thing you saw simply emerged from your imagination.

Or maybe, just maybe, it didn’t…

Shadows is book 1 of the Sapphire Smyth & the Shadow Five series. This is quite a short book, the first of a six part serial. I've read a few books this year in this format and I enjoy it as it keeps things fast paced and not too bogged down with detail. The downside of this is that it would have been nice to have at least a little more detail. There wasn't really enough time to really get to know the characters, though I expect this will be remedied in the later books. It would have been good to start just a little further back, to understand more about Sapphire's relationship with her foster family. Not knowing them at all, it is hard to feel the shock that she must be feeling at their behaviour. However, the prologue gives an intriguing glimpse into Sapphire's much earlier past and her parents.

Ben clearly knows a lot more about everything than Sapphire does, though he doesn't seem in a hurry to explain much to her. I don't really blame him as she can be kind of a bratty character and I really couldn't empathise much with her.  I'm not quite sure about their relationship as it sounds as though they are supposed to be really close but Sapphire definitely has trust issues from the start. Hopefully he will turn out to be a trustworthy friend.

I enjoyed the fantasy and wanted to know more about the shadows and where they come from, so far I can't tell if they are actually good or bad, I'm guessing they can be either. The book didn't leave me desperate to read more, though the titles of the next two books, Mermaids and Dragons, did pique my interest!

Here's my Shadowsmyth cocktail:

Mix 1 shot blue curacao and 1 shot chambord. Stir with ice to chill and strain into a champagne flute. Top with prosecco.

The Sapphire Smyth & The Shadow Five blog tour runs until 20th October so be sure to check out some of the other great tour stops.

The Good Luck Girls - Charlotte Nicole Davis

Sold into slavery, as children they work as daybreak girls in the house until they are old enough to become sundown girls, when they work for their keep in a very different way. They are called Good Luck Girls and are expected to believe they are the lucky ones because they live in relative comfort with plenty of food and most importantly, protection from the dangers of life outside the house. Revenants, vengeants and many others besides.

On Clementine's first night as a sundown girl, she accidentally kills her brag and has no choice than to go on the run. With her sister Aster and three other girls from the house, they plan an escape from the welcome house. But even then, with their tattooed favors marking them out, they face the constant threat of capture.

The story is told mostly in Aster's voice. Although she isn't actually that much older than Clem, she seems years older and is driven by her determination to keep her sister safe. She leads the group even though she isn't sure she has the strength, but when any of the girls are in trouble, she is unstoppable and will do anything to protect them.

The book is full of ups and downs. Moments of despair and times of relief, both touching and joyful. Reading a sample of the book, I thought it would be interesting but didn't expect to find it as engrossing as I did! I found it so hard to put down and hardly noticed the time passing. One thing I would have liked would be a bit more explanation. I don't think it is ever fully explained what is a dustblood, brag, or why they don't have shadows. Mostly I could guess but would have liked to know a bit more about some things. I wonder if there will be a follow up book. There is a satisfying ending but I feel like it has been left open to the possibility of more.

The Good Luck Girls are given new names when they come to the house, all named after the flowers that they have as their favors.  I've made a Flower Mojito, adding elderflower, jasmine and lavender to the traditional cocktail. Gently muddle (crush) a handful of mint leaves in the bottom of a tall glass. Add 2 shots of rum, a couple of dashes of lavender syrup and elderflower cordial, a shot of cold jasmine tea and half shot of lime juice. Add some ice and stir well. 

Spin the Dawn - Elizabeth Lim

The Emperor is looking for a new Imperial Tailor, and Maia knows this is the job for her, but women can't be tailors, let alone work for the Emperor himself. So when a royal messenger arrives asking for her father, she decides to pose as her brother and take his place. After fighting off the competition and winning her place, Maia is tasked with making 3 mythical dresses. One from the laughter of the sun, the second from the tears of the moon and the last from the blood of stars.

Maia is so sweet but so determined. Even the threat of discovery doesn't stop her from doing what she thinks is right. And she literally risks everything, including her life, for her family. Edan is quite a mysterious character and I liked his mischievousness right away. I loved the connection between them and their conversations, with Maia wary of the Enchanter and Edan clearly fascinated by her.

I don't think I really knew what I was getting into when I started this book. The cover attracted me first and then all the praise from other readers. I'm very glad I read it as I really enjoyed the book and hope that book 2 won't be far behind. The book was wonderfully written and I found it completely immersive.

I requested the book from my library but was lucky enough to be sent this lovely swag from the author.

To make the Starry Night cocktail, stir the following with ice: 2 shots Chardonnay, 1/2 shot pear eau de vie, 1/2 shot maraschino liqueur. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a star anise.

Into the Crooked Place - Alexandra Christo

I can't believe how lucky I was to receive this proof copy! I loved Alexandra Christo's previous book, To Kill A Kingdom so much and was on the edge of my seat waiting for this one. The book came with a beautiful silvery map of the city. I can't seem to do it justice in the photo but it is lovely.

Tavia is the best magic busker in Creije, working for Wesley, who used to be her friend but is now the Kingpin's golden boy. Karam and Saxony also work for Wesley, but in the Crook, his underground fighting club. The four crooks now need to team up if they are to save their city, but they all have their own secrets and none can ever truly trust the others. This is the first half of a duology so there was bound to be a cliffhanger but the book is also quite self contained apart from this.

As the four main characters are introduced, they mostly seem almost like strangers. However, as the story progresses you learn a lot more about the relationships and history between them all. I felt like this changed how I thought and felt about each of them.

This was such an immersive world, I had to surface now and then just to find out where I was and what was going on. There was plenty of magic but the distinctive thing about this world is that while anyone can buy and use magic, only crafters can create new magic. Once again the author has created complex characters and actually managed to make me care about the bad guys. 

To make a Black Magic cocktail, muddle 12 red grapes in a shaker, add 1/2 shot of triple sec and ice and shake well. Strain into a flute and top with champagne.

City of Wishes Serial - Rachel Morgan

This is a different take on the Cinderella story, where Elle is not just an unwanted stepdaughter, but a human slave to her fae step-family. However, unlike most humans Elle does have one gift. She is determined to use it to buy her own freedom and that of her younger step-sister. 

Elle's stepmother really is a horrible piece of work, the way she so casually hurts her own daughter as punishment to Elle and also the other way round. I was very interested in finding out what Dex's true motives were, and the clues about Elle's mother were intriguing. The Godmother is one of my favourite characters. She's kind of evil but in a cool way, I would love a book or even just a short story about her. To be honest all the characters are pretty cool, even the side characters seem interesting, I would like more about Cress too.

The series was written in six parts and I really enjoyed the serialisation aspect of the book. It was almost like watching a TV series though I found it so hard to wait for the next instalment each time. My only complaint is that the books are so short. They are supposed to be, but I felt like just as I was getting immersed in the story, it finished. And Rachel Morgan really knows how to leave you hanging and desperate for more! 

Essence Cocktail

Stir together 1 shot of orange vodka, 1/4 shot of lemon juice and a dash of sugar with some ice. Strain into a cocktail glass and stir in some edible glitter. Top with prosecco, the bubbles will help keep the drink shimmering. I used pink & gold glitter which turned the drink a pretty peach colour, but to be more faithful to the book you could use pure gold like the faeries' essence.

What I Read On My Holidays 

I've just had a wonderful holiday in Greece and I'm pretty pleased with my reading progress. I took a pile of paperbacks that I really wanted to read, as well as my kindle and of course library apps for audiobooks. Before looking ahead, how many of these do you think I managed to read?

In my physical books pile were:

Tales Of Folk and Fey by Melissa Marr

Under a Dancing Star by Laura Wood

The Quiet at the End of the World by Lauren James

The Guggenheim Mystery by Robin Stevens

The Price Guide to the Occult by Leslye Walton

First I finished off Two of Swords by Colleen Vanderlinden on kindle and The Familiars by Stacey Halls on audio. From the list above I read Tales Of Folk and Fey, The Price Guide to the Occult and The Quiet at the End of the World. I managed to just get started on Under a Dancing Star near the end of the holiday and was excessively happy to see it matched my nails AND the sea! Then I finished it off on the plane home so I'm counting that as on holiday. Naturally the only one I didn't manage was a library book which was due back soon, The Guggenheim Mystery, but I made that one my priority as soon as I got back.

Here are some short reviews of my favourites:

Two of Swords - Colleen Vanderlinden

Moira is determined to leave the past behind and focus on the kitchen magic that she loves. Things are going well, her bakery is successful and she has made some good friends. But then her Bounty Hunter past makes a comeback and she is drawn into her old world again. Moira's necromancy has never sat well with her kitchen magic and now threatens to take over if she lets it. She has some tricky decisions to make that could affect the rest of her life.

The Quiet at the End of the World - Lauren James

I took this on holiday knowing my sister would want to read it too. She actually read it first and then kept nagging me to get to it asap because she couldn't wait to discuss it with someone! Of course, I knew I would enjoy it as I loved The Loneliest Girl in the Universe.

I had no idea how this book could possibly end but I was still surprised at the conclusion. In fact there were so many surprises throughout the book. I really loved the ending, it was so uplifting and hopeful. 

Under a Dancing Star - Laura Wood

Bea and Ben are so perfect for each other. Exactly what the other needs to balance them out. The romantic letter Ben writes is just the best thing ever! And Bea trying on trousers for the first time articulates exactly how I feel (Pockets! What a delight.). I think Bea is one of my favourite heroines, she's so feisty and has the best sense of humour. I enjoyed the book so much I finished almost the whole thing on the plane home. Then had nothing else to read as I hadn't expected to get through it all so quickly. Rooky mistake not having a spare book!

Disclaimer... I actually haven't read Much Ado About Nothing! However, I now do want to read it and I'm sure it will be even better with this new perspective. 

As I was in Greece my drink of choice was actually a coffee. Frappe is made by mixing together instant coffee with a little water and sugar to taste. Once frothy, add ice, milk if wanted, and more water to get a lovely long, ice cold drink. 

Did you guess the number of books correctly? Have you read and enjoyed any of these? I would love to hear which is your favourite.

Maresi Red Mantle - Maria Turtschaninoff

I'll start with a quick overview of books one and two of the Red Abbey Chronicles. Book one tells Maresi's story of growing up at the Red Abbey. She arrived there as a young child and though she always missed her family, she loves her friends and the Sisters on the island. Rather than continue with Maresi, book two goes back to the lives of the women who founded the Abbey and how they came together to rescue themselves from a life of servitude to a selfish, cruel man.

In book three we are once again following Maresi and her personal mission to go back to her family and her home village. There she wants to start a school where she can teach girls all the things she has learnt at the Red Abbey. She has quite a journey to reach her home and even once there it is not as easy as she had hoped to fit in and set up the school.

This book is written a little differently to the others, as a series of letters from Maresi back to the the sisters and her friends in the Abbey. I wasn't too keen on this format at first but I soon forgot this as I was completely immersed in the story. 

Though Maresi has to endure many hardships and setbacks, there are some moments of such true kindness that I felt so emotional. Whenever she feels like giving up, the people around her surprise her and remind her of her true purpose. I don't want to give away any spoilers but the resolution scene was so dramatic and described so wonderfully. Plus Karun is like a dream man, so perfect!

I've made a Red Abbey cocktail, adapting the Red Earl by adding strawberries and lemon juice.

Muddle a few raspberries and strawberries in a cocktail shaker, add in 1&1/2 shots of vodka, 1/2 shot limoncello, 1/2 shot lemon juice and a dash of sugar syrup (you can leave out the sugar if you prefer, especially if the fruit is quite sweet). Shake with ice and strain into a glass. Garnish with a raspberry float.

Stepsister - Jennifer Donnelly

When girls are supposed to be pretty and nice and nothing else, what can you do if you're a little bit different? Constantly being reminded of what you're not, is a good recipe for bad feelings and resentment to grow and this is what happens to Ella's ugly stepsisters. When Ella gets her dream come true and marries the prince, the whole town hears how she was treated and her step-family must now endure the same treatment from everyone else.

Isabelle's future has been written on her map by the Fates, and nothing can change that harsh reality. Except maybe for Chance. He is determined to give Isabelle the opportunity to change her fate and in doing so, maybe make up for some of his own mistakes. The Crone, however, is convinced that people don't want to take chances and are better off blindly following their fate.

I really enjoyed the interactions between Ella and Isabelle. It made both of them more real and substantial characters. Ella is portrayed as quite a soppy girl. But she's also very kind and just trying to make things better for everyone, however she can.

Chance and his troupe create a play for Isabelle in the book and the description was so vivid it made me feel like I was there. Isabelle was almost spellbound and so was I. I think this play should be written and played to girls everywhere, I would love to see it for real.

For most of the book I was interested but not entirely gripped, however the last quarter of the book I did not want to put it down. I feel like there is so much in here that is worth the time and investment. There is more to true beauty than being sweet, pretty and amiable. I found it was very inspiring.

There's a wonderful quote which is so true I will try to remember it always - 

Believe that you can make your own way. Or don't. Either way, you are right.

Twist of Fate is a very appropriate cocktail for this book, with both Fate and Chance vying to influence Isabelle's future. I am not usually a fan of scotch but this one is particularly drinkable. Shake the following with ice, 1&1/2 shots smoky scotch, 1 shot grenadine, 3/4 shot lime juice, 2 dashes grapefruit bitters. Strain into a rocks glass with ice.

Book Mix & Match 6

To go with this lovely collection of books, I've made a Collection Cocktail. Shake with ice: 3/4 shot vodka, 3/4 shot lemon vodka, 3/4 shot Benedictine, 3/4 shot Blackberry liqueur and 1/2 shot lime juice. Strain into a martini glass. I would love to know if you make the cocktail, share your pictures and tag me so I can see your creations!

Outside - Sarah Ann Juckes

Ele believes in the Outside even if none of the Others do. She's been in the Tower forever and the only thing she sees from the Outside is Him, but she knows it's there and she is determined to find a way out.

Hints of the shocking truth keep coming through and I found myself constantly revising my ideas of what was happening and who the others were. Even after finishing the book I couldn't stop thinking about it.

The Masked City - Genevieve Cogman

Irene is a very rare librarian, she works for the Invisible Library but unlike most of her colleagues, she was actually born to two librarians. When her assistant, Kai, is kidnapped, she takes the full weight of responsibility and blames herself. Despite the many powers of the kidnappers, it is up to her to rescue him and hopefully prevent a war between the Fae and the Dragons. 

Irene is a brave, accomplished and quick thinking character. Fiercely loyal to the library, but still thinking for herself. I would LOVE to be able to use the Language. Librarians can use it like magic and it would be amazing to have that power. Even without it, working as a library-spy sounds intriguing. This is the second book of the Invisible Library series and I am so looking forward to reading more.

The Binding - Bridget Collins

The blurb for this book was intriguing, but the ideas that hooked me also horrified me! I love books about books, but this is quite different. In this world, books are memories, bound when someone wants to forget something from their life. Most people are repulsed by the idea while others look to profit from it.

I immediately felt for Emmett who tries so hard not to be a burden on his family. He believes he's been ill for a long time and even now finds working on his family's farm very difficult, blaming himself for everything that goes wrong. When the local binder requests him to be her apprentice, he doesn't want to go. He remembers how disgusted his father was when he saw him reading a book as a child. Now he knows better than to have anything to do with books. But it doesn't seem that he has a choice and finds himself settling into life with the binder as if he was made for it.

I found myself completely absorbed by the writing and intrigued to know what would happen to Emmett. 

Vote for Effie - Laura Wood

Effie has just started at a new school and it's not long before she finds plenty of injustice to fight against. She decides to run against the unrivalled Junior school president and champion anyone who needs support at the school. I really enjoyed reading about Effie's plans to change her new school for the better, and her absolute determination to win the election.

I could really empathise with Effie and her Greek family. My favourite character was Lil, Effie's little sister. She was so funny! I sometimes think younger books can seem quite childish but this one is easy to read for all ages.

Oh My Gods - Alexandra Sheppard

I love anything to do with mythology, particularly Greek so that meant I just had to read this book. Being half Greek, though unfortunately not half Goddess, made it even more appealing.

Helen is such a down to Earth, normal girl apart from the little matter of her father being the King of the Greek Gods. She hasn't had the easiest life so far and now she just wants to settle down in her new home, make some friends at school and maybe even have her first real kiss. Of course, life never goes to plan and her new family cause no end of problems for her.

Though the Gods have been around for centuries, they can still learn something from Helen. She's a normal girl but when she's needed, she finds the bravery inside her and shows the Gods who is wisest! I really hope there will be more books starring Helen.

Have you read any of these books? Which would you pick up first? Let me know in the comments!

Perfectly Preventable Deaths - Deirdre Sullivan

Madeline and Catlin move to the remote town of Ballyfrann when their mother remarries. The fact that their new stepfather lives in a castle isn't anywhere near the most peculiar thing about their new life and home. The people are mysterious and distant, everyone seems to have secrets. When Catlin falls in love, Madeline is convinced there is something sinister about Lon. Madeline gradually has to accept that there is a power to her strange feelings and inexplicable gathering habits. But she has always had big plans for her life, now she has to decide just how much she is willing to sacrifice to save her twin sister.

I can't imagine what it would be like to move to such a new place. Living in a castle, knowing nothing about the town. There's also the question of what actually happened to their father. He is mentioned but you still want to know more.

The story is quite slow moving but I really liked the writing. It is so descriptive and emotive without being too flowery. You feel the danger and mystery. The book isn't exactly action packed but the plot is subtle. I found the girls' language a bit strange though. Madeline talks a bit teenage-speak even just to herself. They also very rarely seem to have an accent but it pops up now and then.

Two words that stand out in the book are salt and bird. Once you read it you'll know why! So here is the Salty Bird cocktail. It came out such a gorgeous colour and so lovely and frothy. Let me know what you think in the comments.

Put all the following ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake well, then pour into a tall ice-filled glass. 1&1/2 shots white rum, 3/4 shot Campari (I used Aperol which worked very well), 1&1/2 shots pineapple juice, 1/2 shot lime juice. 1/4 shot sugar syrup, a pinch of salt.

Emily Eternal - M.G. Wheaton

More than just an Artificial Intelligence, Emily is an Artificial Consciousness. She lives like a normal human as much as possible, with a whole campus simulation to walk around, a dorm room and even kitchen gadgets that she can't quite figure out. Emily can actually feel emotions, though she does like to check that some of them haven't just been programmed in. 

Emily was created to be a kind of virtual psychiatrist, but when the world discovers that the sun is dying much sooner than anyone ever imagined, her brain is needed to help find a solution. After seemingly endless attempts to find a answer, a group of scientists require Emily's help to save all of humanity digitally instead. However, it is while doing this that Emily discovers a different possibility. She sees an alternative that might just work to actually save people's lives.

I really liked the way Emily was revealed to the reader gradually at the start. It is so fascinating seeing how Emily's mind works and following the connections she makes. She has such an amazing brain but at the same time is a very relatable, wonderful character. This book had a fantastic mix of science and emotion, with mystery, intrigue, and a dash of romance. I never could have imagined the solution Emily comes up with, she manages to keep you guessing all through.

In consideration of Emily's indomitable spirit, here's an Eternal Spirit to sip on while reading.

Mix all the following ingredients in a shaker with ice, then fine strain into a cocktail glass: 1&1/2 shots white rum, 1/2 shot vermouth, 1/3 shot amaretto, 2/3 shot lemon juice, 3 slices of peeled cucumber, 1 teaspoon sugar. 

Sanctuary - V.V. James

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a massive fan of Vic James so of course I was desperate to get my hands on her new book as soon as she hinted about it on twitter. Anything she writes is bound to have me hooked and her description of the new witchy thriller meant I couldn't wait to read it. 

To start with, I found it just slightly confusing as it involves a lot of characters and the chapters are from different characters' points of view. I'm not usually a fan of this type of book. However, I do like knowing the various characters' thoughts and it didn't take me very long to get completely stuck into the story.

Maggie is a detective brought in to investigate a case in Sanctuary, the small town she used to live in. Her boss and the local sheriff both encourage her to make the investigation quick. A fire at a house party and an accidental death. But the more she investigates, the less simple it all seems. Could it be murder, and could magic have been involved?

In Sanctuary, everyone has secrets. Only Sarah Fenn, the town witch, seems to know most of them. But she doesn't know everything, even some secrets right under her nose. On top of this there are so many misunderstandings. Though the families had been friends for years, the mothers had no idea what was going on now that their children were teenagers. The relationship between the mothers did not mirror their kids' friendships at all. The situation gets more and more complicated and when things eventually get out of hand it is terrifying, like mass hysteria and mob mentality and the worst parts of everyone all rolled into one.

Vic's writing itself is like magic. She just leads you where she wants you to go and you follow along thinking you're cleverly working it all out yourself. Then the twists come and you realise you only thought what she wanted you to think! It's a beautiful cover too, in a way describing how isolated and apart the town is, as well as possibly hinting at something to come.

The Sanctuary cocktail actually uses Amer Picon, but as this is not the most common home ingredient (I didn't have any) I did a bit of research and found that Aperol is an acceptable substitute. In my opinion I think it probably improves it.

In a jar with ice, stir together 2 shots of Dubonnet Red, 1 shot of Aperol and 1/2 shot of triple sec. Then strain into a martini glass.

The Boy Who Steals Houses - C.G. Drews

I'm so excited to be part of the Book Blitz for C.G. Drews' second book. This is one book that I read as soon as it arrived in the post, which is EXTREMELY rare for me! If you haven't yet read her first amazing book, A Thousand Perfect Notes, have a look at my review, and for anyone somehow unfamiliar with the author (aliens maybe???), check out her wonderful blog, it's one of my favourites!

Can two broken boys find their perfect home?

Sam is only fifteen but he and his autistic older brother, Avery, have been abandoned by every relative he's ever known. Now Sam's trying to build a new life for them. He survives by breaking into empty houses when their owners are away, until one day he's caught out when a family returns home. To his amazement this large, chaotic family takes him under their wing - each teenager assuming Sam is a friend of another sibling. Sam finds himself inextricably caught up in their life, and falling for the beautiful Moxie.

But Sam has a secret, and his past is about to catch up with him.

   

Sam survives by breaking into empty houses for somewhere to sleep at night. Though his brother is a couple of years older than him, he has constantly had to be the grown up and is always thinking about how he can protect Avery.
My heart broke over and over again for what Sam and Avery go through. I just wanted to bawl my eyes out by the end. I couldn't figure out how it could possibly end well, but the ending was absolutely perfect.

He's officially taken house burglary to the next level. Forget stealing a bed, a key, a home for the night. He's stealing families and their Sunday lunches.

Sam's love interest in the book is Moxie, and she absolutely loves caramel so I had to pair this book with a caramel cocktail. The Caramel Apple Martini from the Martini Diva is pretty simple to make but absolutely delicious. You can find the instructions here.

Giveaway!

Obviously you'll now be desperate to read the book so I am very excited to share a giveaway where you can win a signed and annotated copy of the book as well as an art print.

Click here for a chance to win!

But just in case you don't win, here are the links to buy:

Australia and New Zealand: Angus and Robinson  Booktopia  Amazon Australia  Fishpond

International: Amazon US  Waterstones  The Book Depository  Wordery