Book Mix & Match 5

As usual with my Mix and Match reviews, I'll start with the cocktail. Today I'm drinking an Almond Martini. Shake the following ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled glass. 2 shots vodka, 1/2 shot lemon juice, 1/2 shot orgeat, 1 shot apple juice, 2 dashes of peach bitters. Now read through these mini reviews and pick a delicious book to go with your drink!

The Wicked King - Holly Black

Wow!!! I was really not expecting that ending. It's hard to describe without spoilers but I was actually fooled into believing that things might be working out. By now I should know better than to trust Holly Black with my feelings!

Jude has now managed to put herself into a position of power though only Cardan knows the truth of just how far she has gone. But she is realising that holding on to this power is even harder than getting it in the first place. She needs to find a way to extend her rule, while at the same time protecting the people she cares about, interrupting the schemes of other courts and fighting her growing feelings for Cardan.

I couldn't quite give it the 5 stars of The Cruel Prince, probably because now I kind of knew what to expect, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book and was at the edge of my seat through most of it. I'll probably need to re-read as I read it so fast and must have missed things.

Before I Let Go - Marieke Nijkamp

After only a few months away, Corey returns to Lost Creek when she hears of her best friend's death. What she doesn't expect is to be treated like an outsider by the rest of the tiny, close knit town. People she once thought of as family, no longer want her around when she starts questioning what happened to Kyra. Though she is told that Kyra fell through the ice on the lake, Corey suspects there is something more to it from the start. With all the spooky things that happen around Corey, and the powers Kyra seems to have had through her painting, the story gets more and more mysterious the longer she is there. 

I couldn't believe it when the book finished and I couldn't even move for a few moments! I expected a lot more from the ending, yet I think it was actually enough. 

I read this book as part of my preparation for YALC as I saw the author would be there. I'm so glad I put it to the top of my reading pile, I enjoyed it so much!

The Bone Season - Samantha Shannon

In a not too far off future, anyone with clairvoyant ability is hunted and feared. They must hide their abilities and a mafia-type criminal underworld has sprung up to protect and use those with the strongest abilities. When Paige is found out and imprisoned, she's sure that she will be killed. Instead she finds herself taken to a different kind of prison, the city of Oxford, where she finds out that the government she was so afraid of is nothing but a puppet to the Rephaim. They are powerful and deadly and she must somehow learn to trust one of them if she ever wants to escape.

I'm so glad I finally managed to get started on this series. Thank goodness for audiobooks! I've moved straight on to book 2, again on audiobook as I really enjoyed the narrator's reading.

Scythe - Neal Shusterman

In the world of the Thunderhead, there is no illness, war or hunger. The Thunderhead is an all-seeing, almost all-knowing AI which is running the world. But with no death, Earth's population growth is out of control. To combat this, the Scythes were created to glean a certain number of people each year. Neither Citra or Rowan want this job, but when Scythe Faraday chooses them as his apprentices, they both decide to give it a try for the year.

I didn't expect to feel so emotional reading this. Faraday's comments on Rowan's actions were so heart-felt.

I had mixed feelings through the book. I loved it at times, but wanted to rush through some parts. I definitely want to read more though, the whole idea was intriguing and I was fascinated by the moral uncertainty of Citra and Rowan. I'm looking forward to book 2, I really want to find out more about the Thunderhead.

The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes - Ruth Hogan

After tragedy struck 12 years ago, Masha has only been existing. She continues on but everything is tainted by her sadness until she realises that her life hasn't ended and she needs to start really living again. Seeing how other people have coped with death and managed to move on without forgetting their loved ones, she is inspired to enjoy life again.

The story is told mostly from Masha's point of view but also from the point of view of Alice, and you wonder where their lives will cross.

Despite the serious themes of the book, there were some hilarious sections. The description of a play Masha attends with her best friend is the funniest thing I've read in a while and I would have loved to be there to see it myself. The book was quite slow moving but still enjoyable.

Jinxed - Amy McCulloch

Imagine if your phone was a pet that could comfort you, advise you, keep you up to date with your messages, even organise your life. Lacey is just coming of age to get her first baku but wants to wait for the confirmation that she'll get into her perfect school, where they will give her a level 2 baku rather than the simple insect baku she can actually afford. Then she accidentally finds a broken cat baku and her life changes. This is no normal obedient cat baku, Jinx answers back, ignores her commands and seems to be having a bit of an existential crisis. On the other hand, he's the answer to all her dreams and she can't help loving him.

I thought the bakus were a little bit like the Daemons in Golden Compass. A constant companion that is almost a part of their owners, rather than just a gadget. The writing is just so good, I immediately got enthralled in the story and really want to read book 2. I hope it will be released soon!