Things I've Said to My Children (Nathan Ripperger)

Release Date: September 15th 2015

Synopsis:
An illustrated gift book that brings to life the universal parenting experience of saying strange and hilarious things to one's kids.
As the father of five boys (all under age 10), graphic designer Nathan Ripperger has found himself saying some rather funny, absurd, and downright bizarre things to his children, from "Stop riding that penguin, we're leaving" to "I am NOT talking to you until you are wearing underwear." He created poster-like images for each and posted them online. The response from other parents was overwhelming. With Things I've Said to My Children, Ripperger has assembled around 80 of the funniest, weirdest, and most amusing sayings and paired them with full-color, designed images that bring these outrageously hysterical quotes to life. Covering the essential parenting topics like food, animals, don'ts, and of course, bodily functions, Things I've Said to My Children is a light-hearted illustrated reminder of the shared absurdity of parenthood. Especially for those parents who've ever found themselves uttering some variation of the line, "Please don't eat the goldfish crackers you've put in your butt."

Review:
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review.
As a sort of disclaimer, I'll just say that I am not, at all, a parent. My only experience with little kids is my brother. However, I laughed harder than I'd had in a long time while reading a book.
For me, this was just a kind of break from longer books, an opportunity to have a genuine laugh that is just light, one where there's nothing behind it... I just wanted to laugh at the funny things parents sometimes say to their kids that sound ridiculous out of context. That's why I enjoyed it so much.
I found myself imagining the situations that contained these sentences that were just so hilariously illustrated in this book that it was almost impossible to figure out where they would fit in in a normal conversation. Perhaps because I have no real experience in raising a child, I wouldn't know what parents find themselves saying to their kids and what kids would do to call for that behaviour.
I had a blast flipping through these colourful pages and actually letting myself go with the simple fun of a child and the hectic stress of a parent.
There's not much else to say, besides the fact that Nathan Ripperger really captured these quotes and enhanced them in the pictures, elevating this from simply funny to pleasing and artistic.
I would honestly read an entire 500-page book with sentences removed from context, like 'We do not poop in books' and 'No chickens on the trampoline'.
This was a very beautifully accomplished book and a heartfelt portrayal of a young human's actions. Absolutely recommend it, especially, obviously, to parents everywhere.

Our Kinda Love (Denna Eshler)

Release Blitz - Our Kinda Love (What Kinda Love book #2)

Title: Our Kinda Love (What Kinda Love #2)

Author: Deanna Eshler

Genre: New Adult Romance

Release Date: September 12, 2015

Synopsis:
Keegan Hughes is a fiercely independent, and annoyingly honest, college senior who believes in the zombie apocalypse. Her “unique qualities” entertain her friends and, unfortunately, attracts the attention of her new neighbor, Adrian Elliott.
Having been left behind by other men in her life, Keegan vowed to never trust another guy with her happiness. She'll take what she wants from them, but they only get what she's willing to give. When Adrian slams into her life, he tramples all over her rules and boundaries, constantly throwing her off balance.
Keegan can't deny her physical attraction to Adrian, but his hyperactive, slightly delusional personality, is very unlike her usual type—confident, tattooed, alpha male. When Adrian makes a proposal that could benefit them both, Keegan knows it's a horrible idea, but can't resist his plea for her help.
Neither of them are prepared for the storm that's created when their two very intense personalities come together. Will Keegan get the hell out before Adrian destroys every boundary she creates? If she stays, can Adrian get through his own real-life demons to be the first man in her life to make her a priority?

This Romantic Comedy is the second in a series, but it is a standalone. Our Kinda Love is a spinoff on secondary characters from the first book in the series - Shy Kinda Love.

 
Review:
I should probably be honest and say that I was a bit doubtful about how much I would actually enjoy this book, as I have never before read a New Adult book, but non of that matters now. What matters is that I read it, I enjoyed it and I felt many things while doing it.
The first thing I had to do was ignore the fact that I haven't read a romance book in a long time, so I wasn't sure I would be able to let myself enjoy it for just that, but I soon learned that with this book it was extremely easy to forget it's a romance. Eshler's writing, simple yet striking, was enough to figuratively attack us from every front and (not) literally break our hearts with her emotional backstories and complex, lovable characters.
The story developed at a steady and fast pace, keeping us entwined it its every twist and turn, and, man, where there a lot. I don't think I was completely ready to jump right into such an emotion-driven book and, much like Keegan herself, I didn't know how to handle the feelings I had inside for a long time. I was mostly caught off guard by Adrian's character, and pleasantly surprised with how much I related to Keegan's own thoughts.
I truly believe that Our Kinda Love's best aspect is its characters and how their relationships shifted and swayed so beautifully and, even, comically, and I'm not just talking about the romance. I wasn't expecting how fast I would fall in love with Adrian's loving and passionate character and his protective nature he showed to those he loved, especially his brothers.
All that being said, I couldn't completely love the whole product, I guess I just can't distance myself from the amount of romance I 'm not used to reading about, but I did love the reading experience, the drama, the characters I grew attached to, the pages that flew by me in 250 different emotions and the more I think about it the more grateful I feel for the author's email, inviting me to get to know these people she created and their fantastic stories and giving me the opportunity to review it and share my thoughts, hopeful that they are enough to get more people to know them too.
Overall, I would definitely recommend Denna Eshler's second book as a great example of New Adult enjoyment. An honestly fantastic way to be introduced to a genre and an author I will definitely want to read more from in a very, very near future (especially if it involves a guy like Adrian to fangirl over).

Purchase link for Our Kinda Love - Amazon Smashwords
Goodreads link for OKL - Goodreads
Purchase link for Shy Kinda Love (first book in the series) - Amazon
 

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How to Fly with Broken Wings (Jane Elson)

Synopsis:  
'If Finn Maison shouts jump you jump or you are dead.'
Twelve-year-old Willem has Aspergers Syndrome and two main aims in life: to fly and to make at least two friends of his own age. But all the other boys from the Beckham Estate do is make him jump off things. First his desk - and now the wall. As his toes teeter on the edge, Sasha Barton gives him a tiny little wink. Might she become his friend?
Bullied by Finn and his gang the Beckham Estate Boyz, Willem has no choice but to jump. As he flies through the air he flaps his arms, wishing he could fly and escape into the clouds. Instead he comes crashing down and breaks his ankle.
Sasha, angry with herself for not stopping Finn and his Boyz, is determined to put things right. And soon, while the gangs riot on their estate, Willem and Sasha form an unlikely friendship. Because they share a secret. Sasha longs to fly too.
And when Magic Man Archie arrives with stories of war-flying spitfires, he will change the lives of the kids on the Beckham Estate for ever. And perhaps find a way for Willem and Sasha to fly ...
Touching on themes such as friendship and bullying, this is a charming tale about overcoming obstacles and finding friendship in unlikely places.

Review:
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review. 
As usual when it comes to Netgalley titles, I took a sort of leap of faith with this book. I had never heard of the book or the author, and now that I read it I realise how sad that actually is and how determined I am to change that.
The first thing I noticed when I first started the book was how engaging it is. From the first sentence we do feel like we are the main characters for a little bit, we understand them and we grow to love them. My favourite part of my reading experience was definitely how attached I got to every character and how tender and warm I felt inside while reading about them.
Jane Elson was able to create real and wonderful characters with such lovely stories that help us appreciate the little thing we take for granted and how easy it is to do that for other people. Willem was definitely my favourite example of this. To me, while reading How to Fly with Broken Wings, he wasn't a character, he was a child that taught me that to live a beautiful life we don't need a lot, just enough friends and maybe an airplane or two. His happiness was the most important thing to me during my reading experience and I had to cheer for him in every single page. It was fantastic how Elson was able to use his point of view as a way of changing every other character around him for the best despite (and maybe because) of his condition.
That is my next point. With simple yet wonderful writing Jane Elson created the perfect book for younger kids who are now realising how many different types of friends one can get and how each one of them has a story to tell and a way to change ours if we let them, for better or for worse. It's also an astonishing way for those kids to understand, maybe for the first time, what it's like to have the brain of a child with Aspergers Syndrome, someone who thinks in peculiar but similarly incredible ways.
There are many more merits we can award this book, but only by reading it can we actually feel its soul, and there is plenty of it.
I absolutely recommend this heart-warming, inspiring book, especially to little kids finding out about a world they don't yet completely understand. A fantastic, sensational, quick read.

Marvelous - The Books of Marvella #1 (Travis Thrasher)

Synopsis:
Brandon Jeffery’s summer started out with a bang—as in, a friend crashed his car and now he has to work two jobs to pay it off. It’s at Fascination Street Records that he’s introduced to a beautiful but quiet girl named Marvel. She’s new to Hidden Cove and looking for a summer job, so Brandon secretly strikes a deal with their boss to work for free so she can be hired.
When a classmate is found murdered, however, their summer takes a turn for the mysterious. Brandon’s friend Devon is sure he knows just who’s to blame: the creepy recluse of the town quarry. But the police have few leads, and Brandon has the sneaking suspicion he’s being watched.
That’s not what’s in the forefront of on his mind, though. More than trying to pay off his car to his unemployed, alcoholic father and protecting Seth Belcher from the school bullies, he’s determined to date Marvel. He doesn’t understand why they seem so close and she refuses to date him, but as the mystery behind her tragic past begins to unravel, Marvel finally confesses her reason: God has revealed she’s destined to die saving others—and it’s going to be soon.

Review:
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review.
At the very end of last year I posted a review of Wonder by Travis Thrasher (which you can see by clicking here) and I genuinely enjoyed it, but I felt like something was missing. It made sense, given that I later discovered that it was actually the second book in The Books of Marvella series. After I came upon this information, I immediately requested the first book, Marvelous from Netgalley and I couldn't be happier to review it right now.
I have stated this before, but I'll say it again: I don't usually read Christian fiction, and I'm not a religious person, but I truly appreciate different points of view on the matter and this series is one of the finest examples of what I'm trying to say. The truth is that I didn't know Wonder was Christian fiction, and if I had known, despite what I just said, I probably would have missed a wonderful story (see what I did there). That would have been a shame, as this is quickly becoming one of my favourite series and it makes me sad to see it be underappreciated and sometimes ignored due to its categorization.
First of all, my favourite thing about these books is its different considerations of religion, through the eyes of very different characters, with very distinctive opinions, so it's not necessarily a Christian book to its core. Anyone would be able to appreciate the shapes and perspectives this subject takes throughout this book and also the fact that it's not exactly the core purpose of the book. There are so many layers to Marvel and her story that is actually difficult to describe them to someone who hasn't read it, especially in this first book, where we get to meet her through Brandon's eyes.
Secondly, it's impossible to talk about this story without mentioning the incredible set of characters created by Thrasher and the subplots they create with their mere existence. They are all fantastically rich and the simple ways in which the author demonstrates their character development is a treat to read. His writing style is lovely to read and goes perfectly with the story he is telling, reason why I honestly consider Travis Thrasher to be a fantastic writer that not enough people have had the pleasure to meet.
The humour and the flawed teenage characters make them so very relatable and we find ourselves seeing our own problems and flaws in them, true representations of young doubt, love and growth, a reason to thank Thrasher for writing such a brilliant book.
If you have not yet read this book, especially if you didn't do it because of the Christian label, ignore all skepticism and dive right in. There is no doubt everyone who does is bound to come out changed and touched in the end.

John Sinclair - Episode 1: Curse of the Undead (Gabriel Conroy)

Synopsis: 
There are so many ways a person can die. Sooner or later, everyone's number is up, and no one comes back ... or do they?
On a cold November night, a grieving father picks up his hunting rifle and shoots his only daughter in the head. The police are mystified. Why was the girl even at the house? Why wasn't she at the mortuary ... awaiting her burial? After all, Mary Winston had been declared dead two days before. The incident is only the first in a series of mysterious attacks in the small Scottish town of Middlesbury. Dead bodies go missing. A cemetery caretaker is devoured alive. An ancient curse is about to be unleashed ... Detective Chief Inspector John Sinclair works for Scotland Yard's Special Division, an elite unit that deals with extraordinary cases. DCI Sinclair is a battle-hardened veteran of Afghanistan, a man haunted by the past. But nothing could have prepared him for the horrors he's about to face. He goes to Scotland to investigate the gruesome murders but what he finds is a town in the grip of fear. The people of Middlesbury are harboring a secret. A secret that is about to explode...
"John Sinclair" is a reboot of Europe's longest running horror series. Originally conceived in 1973 and still running strong, the "John Sinclair" novellas are firmly rooted in the finest pulp traditions, true page turners with spine-tingling suspense, exquisite gore and a dash of adventure. "John Sinclair" combines the dark visions of Stephen King, Clive Barker and the "X-Files" with the fast-paced action and globe-trotting excitement of James Bond. 
 
Review:
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review. 
I always start these review with an honest moment, so here it comes: I had no idea what I was getting into with this book, I just read that it was a reboot of a 'classic' paranormal novella series and I was too curious to pass it up.
I must admit that, although I wasn't blown away by the whole book, the story was incredibly fast paced and within the first few pages I was hooked. There was something about the characters and the setting that unsettled me and and made me keep reading, and because of that it was a very quick read.
Throughout the book we get closer and closer to a climax that could be the best kind of predictable there is. We knew the direction the story was going, but we couldn't even beggin to prepare for when it actually hit us.
By far the best aspect of this story is its setting, the environment the author creates in that town, where strange things are happening. The event itself, zombie-related, was a bit of a disappointment, although it wasn't cheesy or overdone, like I was expecting. The truth is that it's hard to come up with an original zombie plotline these days, and it's even harder for us readers to be excited by one, when it's such an overused theme in entertainment right now, but if we are able to put this aside, this novella can become an exceptionally entertaining read. Even though I would have loved to love it, I can't say it was a particularly special or remarkable book and I can't describe as something more than what I already said: entertaining. I would be lying if I said I didn't think this was a thrilling, gripping story when we are right in the middle of it, but I didn't find it to be outstanding or unique.
Despite that, I would definitely like to continue reading the following instalments, as this was only the beginning and there is a lot of room for improvement, especially when this is based on a well loved series. I would recommend it to those who loved the series when they were younger, or those who are curious to know what paranormal dangers John Sinclair will face next.

Sparks (Glenn Matchett and Kell Smith - Illustrator)

Synopsis:
Sparks is a one shot crime comic with a twist published by Nemesis Studios. It follows London Private Investigator Melanie (Mel) Sparks as she investigates the horrible murder of a famous actress. It seems that Mel may be the only girl for the job but sometimes nothing is at it seems and surprises can come from anywhere. Created by writer Glenn Matchett and artist Kell Smith

Review:
I got this ebook from the author in return of an honest review. 
When opportunity arose to review this comic I was absolutely thrilled. The concept just grabbed me and there was something about Mel's face on the cover that made me think I was in for a surprise. I couldn't have been more right.
I have to be honest, when I started it and realised it was only 26 pages long I was rather worried that it might end up being underdeveloped or rushed, but that was part of the plot twist. The story developed like a movie in my head, with every plot device being used in the best way possible to engage the reader for the few minutes it takes to read it. Even though I wish it had been more than that, I didn't feel like there was anything missing from the reading experience, in fact, I felt like the story had been told exactly as it should, as it was meant to. That's a feat, in my opinion.
As for the more specific aspects, I thought the combination of the writing and the art was executed perfectly, each page more delightful and dramatic than the previous one, never failing to deliver the sense of thrill and adventure mysteries need. Matchett's use of humour and character development was used to accentuate each one of Smith's lines, complementing each other into a fantastic story.
Although I had hoped the illustrations would be in colour, as I got further and further into the story I realised that wouldn't have mattered, because the final product was still executed remarkably well, and it just goes to show that colour doesn't mean anything when a comic has this much soul and thought in it.
Unfortunately, I can't talk about the ending without spoiling potential readers, obviously, and not knowing what's coming is part of the excitement, but I can say this: as I saw that read page count going up and the remaining pages getting lower, I feared the conclusion had been too convenient and rushed. If you think this too, keep reading, until the very last page. If you don't mind a kind of spoiler, but kind of not: Marchett found a way to create a plot twist comparable to the end of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Kind of. And Kell Smith added images to that.
As mainly unknown authors I really want to support, I can't recommend Glenn Matchett and Kell Smith's Sparks enough and I hope this review convinced you to give it a try, because there's nothing better than meeting new authors and finding new awesome comics along the way. I hope to see more of Mel in the future and more people excited to see more of Mel in the future.

The Turnip Princess and Other Newly Discovered Fairy Tales (Franz Xaver von Schönwerth)

Synopsis:
A rare discovery in the world of fairy tales - now for the first time in English.
With this volume, the holy trinity of fairy tales - the Brothers Grimm, Charles Perrault, and Hans Christian Andersen - becomes a quartet. In the 1850s, Franz Xaver von Schönwerth traversed the forests, lowlands, and mountains of northern Bavaria to record fairy tales, gaining the admiration of even the Brothers Grimm. Most of Schönwerth's work was lost - until a few years ago, when thirty boxes of manu­scripts were uncovered in a German municipal archive.
Now, for the first time, Schönwerth's lost fairy tales are available in English. Violent, dark, and full of action, and upending the relationship between damsels in distress and their dragon-slaying heroes, these more than seventy stories bring us closer than ever to the unadorned oral tradition in which fairy tales are rooted, revolutionizing our understanding of a hallowed genre.
For more than sixty-five years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,500 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Review:
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review. 
Most of us grew up to the magic of fairy tales, songs our parents sang to us as we fell asleep. However, the majority of those kids who were shaped by Cinderella and Snow White grew into oblivious adults, people who wander through life without knowing the origins of the Disney movies they remember or the impact it had on its time. The Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen have become part of our culture, but there's so much more to european culture to be told by fairy tale collectors. This collection is one of the finest examples of that, the previously lost and untold history of unknown stories.
Reading the stories featured in this book felt like traveling through an entire century of oral culture, with Schönwerth serving as a translator and narrator. The evolution of oral tradition and storytelling is present in each page, and the sounds of a time past resonate in the whiteness of the pages upon which these newly discovered fairy tales where imprinted for our delight.
Despite its merit in salvaging a previously lost fantasy through the curious mind of Schönwerth, there are stories in here that need to be looked at with an equally curious mind, knowing in the depths of our hearts that they are simply a reflection of the time they were meant to portray. It took me a while to arrive at this conclusion and it can be a difficult aspect to overlook, the fact that many of the characters and plots are underdeveloped, weak, unlikable or unbelievable. We are now so used to long intricate stories we forget the joys of a small quick trip through fairy tale territories. These stories aren't meant to be looked at as novels, they are stories passed down through generations orally and luckily put into paper. The enjoyment of these little fairy tales comes from how different from the real world they are, how unbelievable they feel to us common people. They are made of magical words that, put together, form a testimony of nameless people that, once upon a time, shared them with Franz Xaver von Schönwerth.
In conclusion, it was a privilege to be taken on this journey, with vivid images to travel through life by my side and many, many magical outcomes to a life well lived. That's what I take from this fascinating piece of literature and that I recommend to everyone.

If You Find This Letter: My Journey to Find Purpose Through Hundreds of Letters to Strangers (Hannah Brencher)

Synopsis:
A heartwarming memoir of love and faith from Hannah Brencher, founder of The World Needs More Love Letters, who has dedicated her life to showing total strangers that they are not alone in the world.
Fresh out of college, Hannah Brencher moved to New York, expecting her life to look like a scene from Sex and the City. Instead, she found a city full of people who knew where they were going and what they were doing and didn't have time for a girl still trying to figure it all out. Lonely and depressed, she noticed a woman who looked like she felt the same way on the subway. Hannah did something strange--she wrote the woman a letter. She folded it, scribbled If you find this letter, it's for you on the front and left it behind.
When she realized that it made her feel better, she started writing and leaving love notes all over the city--in doctor's offices, in coat pockets, in library books, in bathroom stalls. Feeling crushed within a culture that only felt like connecting on a screen, she poured her heart out to complete strangers. She found solace in the idea that her words might brighten someone's day.
Hannah's project took on a life of its own when she made an offer on her blog: She would handwrite a note and mail it to anyone who wanted one. Overnight, her inbox exploded with requests from people all over the world. Nearly 400 handwritten letters later, she started the website, The World Needs More Love Letters, which quickly grew.
There is something about receiving a handwritten note that is so powerful in today's digital era. If You Find This Letter chronicles Hannah's attempts to bring more love into the world,and shows how she rediscovered her faith through the movement she started.

Review:
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review.
I first heard of The World Needs More Love Letters years ago, just when it was on the brink of becoming the extraordinary movement it is now, I just never put a face to the wonderful woman behind it all. This book changed that entirely, not to mention my perspective on everything. That's when you know you are holding a masterpiece, when it feels like the equivalent of a soul-searching trip through the mountains.
There's a lot to be said about this book, more than will ever be able to be expressed by simple words, but if there is one thing we can try to start with is Hannah Brencher's engrossing magical writing. Throughout the entire book I felt bewitched and hypnotised by the brilliance of Hannah's words, the passion, self-discovery and honesty she transmitted through the page. It was an incredible experience to see how such a young woman was able to create so much, and how beautifully she was capable of transmitting it to us, readers. Hannah Brencher is the perfect example of powerful defyance of oppressive sadness, a rebel to depression and a heroic person to look up to.
I found the story itself to be one of the most inspiring moments of my recent reading experiences, especially given the fact that it is a memoir, the real story of a real person, and it made me feel something I hadn't felt in a very long time: the sudden urge to do something greater than myself. If You Find This Letter is so full of love and emotion and reality, it's the perfect portrait of a life worth fighting through, while showing that the best way to help ourselves is to help others. I immediately signed up to be a part of the More Love Letters team, so I can help to share the love Hannah Brencher planted with that first letter she wrote.
I must say this was the easiest five star rating I have given this year, and I can't recommend this book to enough people to be content with my efforts.

The Worrier's Guide to Life (Gemma Correll)

Release Date: May 26th 2015 

Synopsis:  
If you're floundering in life, striking out in love, struggling to pay the rent, and worried about it all -- you're in luck! World Champion Worrier and Expert Insomniac Gemma Correll is here to assure you that it could be much, much worse.
In her hugely popular comic drawings, Gemma Correll dispenses dubious advice and unreliable information on life as she sees it, including The Dystopian Zodiac, Reward Stickers for Grown-Ups, Palm Reading for Millennials, and a Map of the Introvert's Heart. For all you fellow agonizers, fretters, and nervous wrecks, this book is for you. Read it and weep...with laughter

Review:
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review. 
I had no idea what to expect going into this, only that I knew the author's style would interest me, as I had been following her work for a while. I related to the title on a spiritual level, and took a kind of leap of faith by downloading it. I can't say I regret that decision, at all.
First of all, I need to officially acknowledge Gemma Correll's art and, most importantly, the way she is able to show her humour through it. The combination of the two, through subtle and not-so-subtle ways, shows how talented she is, as well as how connected she is with what she is drawing. She understands and knows very well what she's talking about and that shows in every page.
As a class A introvert, I was able to relate to every message and I was glad someone was able to understand it and do so in such a clear and appealing way. There was so much to see and, most importantly, laugh at, that we don't even realise we are nearing the end. That is how you know you are holding a great book.
From knowing exactly how my brain and heart works, to puting into images basically how a session of meditation works for me, Gemma Carroll got every detail, illustrating my life in a colourful biography. To me, this was a way of making something as serious as social anxiety understandable and funny, functioning, simultaneously, as a guide to someone who doesn't understand what it's like, and as comic relief to those of us who see their lives completely overwhelmed by it.
I applaud the author on this incredible, fast read... as I run to the nearest bookshop to buy more of her work.

Edward Scissorhands Volume 1: Parts Unknown (Kate Leth, Drew Rausch - Illustrator)

Release Date: May 19th 2015  

Synopsis:  
An all-new adventure revisiting Edward Scissorhands' two decades after the end of the fan-favorite movie! In a castle just outside a sleepy suburban town, a brilliant inventor created Edward Scissorhands... but left him tragically unfinished. Two generations of exile have left Edward digging through abandoned experiments, but once he wakes up a creature left buried, he discovers he isn't the only one missing a vital piece. As Edward tries to fix a grave mistake, he comes face-to-face with a teenage girl who was sure he was only myth... despite the stories her grandmother told her about the man she could never touch.

Review:
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review. 
When I saw this on Netgalley I had to take a moment to go back to the first time I watched Edward Scissorhands. It's one of my absolute favourite movies and I remember that time so clearly I almost cried when I had the honor of reading this amazing tribute set two generations after the end of the movie.
Edward is one of the most fantastic and fascinating characters I have ever encountered and I bet he's not easy to portray in an adaptation of this nature. However, both the writer and the illustrator did a stellar job at making him show through the barrier of words and image with no sound and motion. He was as real and sweet as we've always known him and I have to admit that he is probably the best part about this whole volume, although everything was very near perfect, in my humble opinion.
We are introduced to new characters and a new plot, including one of Edward's 'relatives' and each one of those elements came together so beautifully.
I have to acclaim the amazing artist who worked on 'Parts Unknown', because the drawings were absolutely beautiful and haunting and carried that same feel of the original movie.
The only thing that lowered my rating (just a tiny tiny bit) was the ending. Even though the story itself was extremely fast-paced and exciting, the ending felt just a little bit rushed and predictable, but, of course, that's not something I wasn't expecting already.
I am sure I will only fall even more in love with the characters and connect with the story with the next volumes.
I absolutely recommend this to anyone, not just fans of the movie. I believe anyone would love Edward, no matter if they have seen it or not, but I also think people who have will automatically feel the nostalgia factor and that will definitely increase the experience and enjoyment.

The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy: A Handbook for Girl Geeks (Sam Maggs)

Release Date: May 12th 2015

Synopsis:
Fanfic, cosplay, cons, books, memes, podcasts, vlogs, OTPs and RPGs and MMOs and more - €”it'€™s never been a better time to be a girl geek. The Fangirl'€™s Guide to the Galaxy is the ultimate handbook for ladies living the nerdy life, a fun and feminist take on the often male-dominated world of geekdom. With delightful illustrations and an unabashed love for all the in(ternet)s and outs of geek culture, this book is packed with tips, playthroughs, and cheat codes for everything from starting an online fan community to planning a convention visit to supporting fellow female geeks in the wild.

Review:
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review.
Let me just start by saying that this is a must read for every fangirl (or fanboy). Although this is mostly aimed at fangirls, I wholeheartedly believe fanboys could take a lot from it, not only in terms of tips for conventions, new books and fandoms, but also in the matter of understanding your fangirl friends.
Overall, this is basically a how-to guide, a Bible, almost, for fangirls all over the world, veteran or new to a specific fandom. I am relatively new to most pop culture fandoms, but with this I feel like I just read a manual on fan culture.
The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy covers everything that matters, honestly. It teaches you how to start crashing into the world's favourite fandoms, how to fangirl over them, how to show your love, how to pack for, handle and react at conventions, how to speak fanfic language, how to deal with online friends and trolls and how to be proud of your gender and fangirl-dom.
Sam Maggs was able to write such an empowering, honest and funny book that teaches you the ways of the world and how to make it a better place through your love of Sherlock and Harry Potter.
It's written in an insightful, inspiring, hilarious and true manner, making you feel like you are part of all of it, and, most importantly, that your input and your existence in the geek world matters.
This is, most of all, a way of showing you that your passion for the things you love and your imagination and creativity can change the world and improve your life, if you just embrace it and don't let yourself get defeated by the haters. It features interviews with women that have made fangirl their jobs (kinda) and grown into loving what they do and sharing it with the rest of human kind.
While reading this I felt like I had finally met someone who understood the true awesomeness of being a nerd in real life. It was my favourite part of the book, besides its useful information on all of the things. I felt included while laughing the whole time.
The perfect book to read at all times, and I can't recommend it enough to everyone who is curious about the huge part of today's culture that are fandoms.

A Free Man (Michel Basilières)

Release Date: May 1st 2015

Synopsis: 
An unusual and remarkable dystopian novel
A Free Man is a satirical tall tale presented as the drug and alcohol fuelled conversation of two old friends getting reacquainted over one night. It’s also a boy-meets-girl story of the worst kind and a time travel story about a future where the world is ruled by robots and humans are vermin. When timelines cross, the world as we know it bends . . .
Skid Roe is completely self-absorbed and delusional. His struggle to exercise free will is constantly hampered by the physical manifestation of his inner demons and by the norms and rules of contemporary life. He’s both aided and hindered by Lem, a robot from the future whose good intentions leave Skid on the run from a shadowy state security agency.
A surreal, beautiful, and powerful literary mash-up, Basilières’ long-awaited sophomore effort is inventive and darkly funny.

Review:
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review.
My first impression of this book was a bit mixed and I couldn't help but feel rather confused and, to be honest, turned-off by the beginning. However, from the very first page there is just something in A Free Man that makes you keep reading, something so obscure and fascinating that you can't realise it until you finish. That something, for me, was the thought-provoking message that was deeply rooted in the overall story, which was as weird and bizarre as it was possibly the most provocative idea I have read about in a very long time.
The main idea of this book is to consider and ponder about the future and what it may hold for us, humans, as a species, through the story of an extremely curious set of characters. That theme was dealt in such a peculiar way by the author that you are kind of distracted from that plot in favour of another major theme: drug use. I couldn't help but wonder, all the way through, if that was actually a real story lived by the main character, Skid, or just product of his drug-fueled delusions.
There was a massive group of bizarre and almost grotesque characters, sub-plot lines and elements all throughout the story and I must give kudos to the author, Michel Basilières, for his extraordinary storytelling technique that he demonstrated in A Free Man.
There is a lot going on, but it felt like it just went by in a flash, leaving us there to deal with the aftermath of what we had just witnessed. That was one of the best parts about this, as I'd never before felt like I did after finishing this story. I felt almost like I should keep it hidden, not tell anyone I'd read it because it was so strange and rude.
As far as characters go, they were all definitely flawed and incredibly complex in a way that is impossible to describe, not to mention utterly cringe-worthy and detestable.
When it comes to thinking about the future, I believe this book adopts a certain Orwell-esque approach while thinking of what will be of our world and ourselves in hundreds of years. Like I mentioned before, this was one of the most thought-provoking dystopian books I have ever experienced and I reckon it will feel that way for a lot of people. Absolutely recommend this, despite it's strong language and heavy themes.

The Suicide Exhibition (Justin Richards)

Synopsis:  
The threat is not new. The aliens have been here before.
The German war machine has woken an ancient threat - the alien Vril and their Ubermensch have returned. With this new power, ultimate Victory in the war for Europe is now within the Nazis' grasp.Obsessed with the Occult, Hitler and other senior Nazis believed they were destined to inherit the Earth. To this end, they are determined to recover 'their' ancient artifacts -- the Ark of the Covenant, the Holy Grail, the Spear of Destiny. When Dunkirk veteran and Foreign Office trouble-shooter Major Guy Pentecross stumbles across a seemingly unbelievable conspiracy, he, together with pilot and American spy Sarah Diamond and SOE operative Leo Davenport, enter the shadow world of Section Z. All three have major roles to play as they uncover the Nazis' insidious plot to use the Vril's technology to win the war... at any cost.
Justin Richards has an extremely credible grasp of WWII history and has transformed it into a groundbreaking alternate reality thriller in The Suicide Exhibition.

Review:
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review. 
Even after reading the synopsis several times, I still couldn't completely picture what this book could have within its pages. As I started reading, I got more confused than before. From the first introductory page, the whole concept and story is incredibly intriguing and the fact that it's hard to wrap our minds around it contributes to its brilliance.
Firstly, the writing pulls you right in, as if you were caught up in a vortex that spits you out at the end questioning everything you thought was true. It was fabulously engaging, absorbing and provocative, in a way that you, deep down, know that what you're reading is practically impossible, but, in that moment, Justin Richards is telling it to you with such certainty and persuasion that you can't help but wonder.
The story itself was fantastically built. If it had been executed any other way it could have gone completely wrong. However, the author turned it around and created one of the most original and uncommon plot lines I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Like I mentioned, in the beginning I was rather confused as to what was exactly happening, but in a way that I just wanted to keep on reading to find out exactly what was behind all those crazy events. Richards was, basically, able to join two of my favourite things: World War II and aliens, and do it in a genuine, riveting and thought-provoking way.
As for the characters, I found each and every one of them to be realistically represented, amazingly likable and altogether peculiar. The manner in wich we got their perspectives, alternating during the course of a chapter was so gripping, leaving us in the edge of our seats, biting our nails in anticipation. There wasn't one character that I couldn't love, even if they were absolutely detestable people.
The ending was entirely satisfactory, although it was also a huge cliff-hanger. All the little story threads were tied and resolved, but with that came new questions, opening way for a promising, action-packed sequel.
The best word I can find to describe this book is 'exciting'. A recommendation that I can't express enough times.

Cube Sleuth (David Terruso)

Synopsis:  
Bobby Pinker hates his humdrum corporate job. He only has one friend at work, a comedian named Ron. Just as their friendship starts to blossom, Ron is found dead in the office parking garage.
The police rule Ron’s death a suicide, but Bobby becomes convinced one of his coworkers murdered him. He starts snooping around the office, slipping voice-activated tape recorders under desks, breaking into the HR filing cabinet, and tailing people home.
Bobby’s investigation will likely get him fired. It will possibly get him arrested. And if he isn’t careful, it just might get him killed.
Cube Sleuth is a dark comedy and an amateur-detective murder mystery.
A tragedy told with comedic timing.
And a raunchy tale of a twenty-something bachelor whose libido leads him down a dangerous path.
If you like mysteries with richly developed characters, crisp dialogue, bizarre twists, and boner jokes, this is the book for you.

Review:
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review. 
I didn't have a clue as to what I was going to find in the pages of this book, but I couldn't be happier with the result of an impulse download.
Firstly, David Terruso was able to develop his characters so well, it felt like Bobby was really telling us his story. I loved how we got to go incredibly deep into all the characters backstories, making them fantastically complex and real. As for Bobby Pinker, I found him to be one of the most likable unlikable characters I have ever encountered. He was truly a good guy, in a way, but he also had so many flaws and problems, was so strangely messed up, I couldn't decide exactly what to think of him, although his progress and evolution were fantastic. Terruso did a great job at allowing us to see inside his mind and understand his actions. His relationship with Ron was wonderful and shocking, especially as we went deeper and deeper into what happened before Ron's death.
I loved the aspect of a completely amateur detective, how he changed the course of his life for his best friend and the woman he loved. The result was an insanely dark comedy, hilarious to the point of containing numerous laugh out loud moments, as well as heartwarming situations. This book had it all, and showed how to disguise a deep, meaningful story behind silly conversations about a crazy theory.
The ending was nothing near predictable, at least not Bobby's ending. After finishing I had to take a moment and reread it to make sure I had read correctly the first time. Despite that, every loose end tied up wonderfully, making of this book one of the most unconventional yet enjoyable mysteries I have read in a very long time. It really felt like nothing was left unsaid, but the characters continued on long after the ending.
I was incredibly grateful I had the opportunity to read and review this book, and I was even more excited when I received an invitation from the publisher to read David Terruso's newest book, 'Lost Touch'. As for this one, there is only one last thing to say, and it is a huge recommendation to fans of mystery and dark, honest humour alike.

Love Hurts (Malorie Blackman)

Synopsis:  
Have you ever fallen for someone the rest of the world thought you shouldn't have? Malorie Blackman brings together the very best young adult authors writing today in a stunningly romantic collection of love against the odds.
Featuring stories and extracts about modern star-crossed lovers, Love Hurts looks at every kind of relationship, from first kiss to final heartbreak.

Review:
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review. 
I had great expectations for this book, mostly because of the authors featured in it. Although I didn't hate it, at all, I feel obliged to separate it into two parts: excerpts and original stories.
While requesting 'Love Hurts' I was expecting it to consist, for the most part, of original stories by acclaimed Young Adult authors, but that wasn't the case. In this book, we find only a few stories, mixed in with innumerous extracts from pre-existing books. That's not exactly a bad thing, it just kept me from connecting fully with some of the characters and their stories.I really enjoyed getting to read these YA books I had hear of before, even if just a small bit. And they were wonderful to experience, as they left me even more excited to read the full books. However, there were some that seemed out of place, as there were various references I didn't understand, characters that I didn't know, and allusions to previous events, necessary to understand the present situation, or the character's decisions. This lead to a bit of confusion, especially in the first few pages.
I'm not saying that's the book's problem, I'm just acknowledging that it definitely hurt my reading experience.
Despite not completely loving some of the excerpts featured, I'm incredibly curious to read every book they came from, and get to know more of the author's writing.
Now, what really enhanced my rating for this anthology were the original stories. I can't think of one I wouldn't give five stars to or read a full book about. I would say, though, that my favourites were Malorie Blackman's and James Dawson's stories, as they show different and unconventional characters and their amazing relationships through beautiful and poignant writing.
Overall, 'Love Hurts' was, despite all its flaws, a beautiful book, showing all kinds of love, from heartbreaking breakups to painfully powerful love, LGBT relationships set in unique surroundings and romance that can spark even for those considered disabled.
I would absolutely recommend this to people who love love and/or understand how it can hurt to love too much or not enough.

The Fade Out, Vol. 1 (Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips - Illustrations)

Synopsis:  
Brubaker and Phillips' newest hit series, The Fade Out, is an epic noir set in the world of noir itself, the backlots and bars of Hollywood at the end of its Golden Era. A movie stuck in endless reshoots, a writer damaged from the war and lost in the bottle, a dead movie star and the lookalike hired to replace her. Nothing is what it seems in the place where only lies are true. The Fade Out is Brubaker and Phillips' most ambitious project yet!
Collects THE FADE OUT issues #1 to #4

Review:
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review. 
Entering this book is going through film History in a whole other way, like a room we are pulled into and come out on the other side with a completely new vision of Old Hollywood,  seeing the darkness behind the glitter.
As always, I will start by saying that the art was absolutely exquisite, completely different from anything I had ever experienced. It was definitely one of the main factors that lead to why I found myself entirely submerged in the story. It set the tone for the plot and its twists and turns, and remained consistent in its somber beauty and enchantment.
The story itself was almost impossible to predict, keeping us guessing until the very last page.
If there is something else to say about 'The Fade Out', is that it shows a reality mixed with the fiction of what happens backstage, when the cameras stop rolling. There's nothing better than to be able to believe what we are reading a true story disguised as fiction, especially when there are references to real actors and events. It adds to the ambience of what has the potential to become one of the best graphic novels of the year.
The characters and their lives will stay with us, and keep us guessing until the authors finally decide to yell 'Cut!'

My Best Everything (Sarah Tomp)

Synopsis:  
You say it was all meant to be. You and me. The way we met. Our secrets in the woods. Even the way it all exploded. It was simply a matter of fate.
Maybe if you were here to tell me again, to explain it one more time, then maybe I wouldn’t feel so uncertain. But I’m going back to the beginning on my own. To see what happened and why.
Luisa “Lulu” Mendez has just finished her final year of high school in a small Virginia town, determined to move on and leave her job at the local junkyard behind. So when her father loses her college tuition money, Lulu needs a new ticket out.
Desperate for funds, she cooks up the (definitely illegal) plan to make and sell moonshine with her friends, Roni and Bucky. Quickly realizing they’re out of their depth, Lulu turns to Mason: a local boy who’s always seemed like a dead end. As Mason guides Lulu through the secret world of moonshine, it looks like her plan might actually work. But can she leave town before she loses everything – including her heart?
The summer walks the line between toxic and intoxicating. My Best Everything is Lulu’s letter to Mason – though is it an apology, a good-bye, or a love letter?

Review:
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review. 
Before requesting this book, I wasn't prepared for how different and interesting it was going to be.
First of all, I had never read a book that featured that moonshine element that was so prominent in this story. I felt like it turned it into a very unique story, opening windows to escape from the usual YA clichés. Besides that, you can read between the lines the work that went into creating that plotline, the research and time it took to understand such an unusual element in a YA book.The writing was also a pleasure to experience. Although it was a bit hard to get used to, like diving into a cold pool, once you were in it, you didn't want to get out. It honestly felt like I was swimming through the story, enjoying every bit.
The only problem I think I had with this book has to do with the characters, specifically the main character. I absolutely loved Mason. I felt like I got to know him and create serious bonds with him. He was a real boy and his story was incredibly fascinating. However, the other characters felt a bit two-dimensional, particularly Lulu's friends, Roni and Bucky. They got their story and it was interesting, but it wasn't enough to make me feel any kind of empathy for them, there wasn't enough for me to know who they were before the story started. The same goes for Lulu. Although I could definitely relate to her on many levels (like her longing for more than what her small town could give her), I couldn't exactly like her. Frankly, she was rather annoying at times and I couldn't force myself to understand her reasons for some decisions she made and some of her actions. I found myself roling my eyes at her thoughts at certain points, despite her many redeeming qualities: she was determined and, when she wasn't being stereotypical tenagery and a rebel, she was incredibly inteligent and even strong.
I really adored the relationship that grew between Mason and Lulu, as well as seeing all the other characters grow and their relationships transform into more meaningful things. I must give kudos to the author, Sarah Tomp, for her exceptional work at character development.
Lastly, I loved the scene where Lulu and Mason meet through Mason's perspective that I read during the Spring YA Scavenger Hunt. It was available during a short period of time, and it was an incredible deleted scene I loved reading.
With all that said, I must acknowledge that this was an immensely enjoyable and fascinating read and could become one of my favourites of this year. Sarah Tomp has a natural talent for storytelling, and that comes through in My Best Everything.

Bob's Burgers (Chad Brewster, Jeff Drake, Justin Hook, Rachel Hastings and Mike Olsen)

Release Date: April 7th 2015 

Synopsis:  
Now you can read about the Belcher family (parents Bob and Linda, and their children Tina, Gene and Louise) with brand-new in-canon stories created by the TV show's producers, writers, and animators!
That's right, all-original stories that expand upon the fan-favorite animated series, including hilarious installments of "Louise's Unsolved Mysteries", "Tina's Erotic Friend Fiction", "A Gene Belcher Original Musical", "Letters Written by Linda", "Bob's Burgers of the Day", and much more!

Review:
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review. 
I need to point out, first and foremost, that I am a huge fan of the show. It's absolutely ridiculous, hilarious and kind of my life story in some twisted, horrific and absurd alternate universe. And that's exactly what this was, expect even more awesome because I could just go back and just admire those glorious and priceless panels.
Each character had their own little story and felt them every time, I could actually hear their voices, like they were telling me what was happening. They were so well portrayed - those illustrations were just stunning, almost moving like in the show. This entire volume is an explosion of color and rhythm that would appeal, in my opinion, to fans of the show and newbies alike.
I was laughing the entire time and I would, without hesitation, reread it anytime I felt sad or down, because the writers and animators of Bob's Burgers never fail to bring a smile on my face.
Absolutely recommend this to anyone who just wants to have a laugh and read something incredibly silly in the best way possible.

Hurt Patrol (Mary McKinley)

Release Date: March 31st 2015

Synopsis:

Give me your nerds, your freaks, your huddled outcasts yearning to breathe free. Stick them in Boy Scout uniforms and you’ll have the Hurt Patrol—a sorry bunch of teen rejects who will never make Eagle.

Welcome to the club

Beau has been scouting since first grade. Not because he loves it, but because his dad does. It’s the only thing they’ve ever bonded over, what with Beau’s dad being into sports, beer, and brawling. So when they move to yet another Midwest town, Beau expects the usual Boy Scout experience, filled with horribleness and insults. Instead he finds something else entirely. Kicked out of every other patrol, their little band of brothers is equal parts nuts and awesome. For the first time, people are watching Beau’s back instead of throwing things at it. Nice. Novel. And also necessary, when you’re dealing with parents splitting up, crushes, first love, and coming out.
The first—and only—rule of Hurt Patrol: We are never going to win—but if you’re outcast elsewhere, you’ll do just fine here.

Review:
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review.
I requested this book as soon as I read the word 'Scout' in the synopsis. I don't think I have ever read a book about Scouts, at least not one that sticks with you as much as this one does.
From the very first page I was completely invested and in love with the characters. They felt so real to me, especially Beau, the main character whose story we follow. He is incredibly flawed and perfect in the best way, one of the most amazing and honest characters I have ever read about. His personality is so sweet and just the idea of him breaks your heart, but, by the end, glues it back into one piece (almost). I loved seeing his growth and development that was surprisingly grand given the size of this story. All the other characters had their own quirks and Mary Mckinley did an amazing job with each one, making us love them and loathe them in equal mesure. Not to mention that his relationship with his parents was one of the most heartbreaking parts of the book, right next to the one with Pete and Jewels, his best friends at the time of the narrative. These parts broke my heart over and over and I didn't even mind.
The story was beautiful and funny and writen with just the right amout of wit and humour to hook you until the end. Like I mentioned, the Scouts plot line was a pretty main one and was astonishingly dealt with. Not only did I learn a lot about the Boy Scouts of America, but also created an emotional connection with everything attached to them. It oppened the doors for wonderful character growth and internal change and discovery. This relates to Beau's realization of his true sexuality and what comes after that, which makes of The Hurt Patrol one of the best coming out books of my reading experiences.
I really adored Mary Mckinley's storytelling style, so I will absolutely try to get my hands on her other books, particularly Rusty Summer and Beau, Lee, The Bomb, and Me, as I reckon there is still a lot to this little story to be told - and I need to know it.
A must read for YA contemporary fans and Scouts all over the world.

While the Gods Were Sleeping (Erwin Mortier, Paul Vincent - Translation)

Synopsis:
While the Gods Were Sleeping is a novel about the magnitude and impact of the First World War, the recollections of which are recorded in the notebooks of the elderly Helena. The young Helena is sent to her uncle’s country house before the war, and from here she witnesses scenes of indescribable horror. But it is also where she meets Matthew again, a British Army photographer who she goes on to marry. This is a story not about spectacular events; rather, Mortier is concerned with writing about war, history and the past with great empathy and engagement, and with a mixture of melancholy, qualification and resignation.

Review:
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review.
While the Gods Were Sleeping was probably the most beautifully written book I have ever read. But I am not going to lie, I had to really push myself to finish this.
Like I mentioned, Erwin Mortier's writing style was absolutely lyrical and delicate, yet, at the same time, hypnotizing, poignant and powerful. In this book the author was able to portray the war and its effects and consequences on the people who lived it through the voice of an elderly woman. There were passages and quotes in this book that we could say today to convey the horrors and wonders of this time. I have to acclaim the translator who worked on this project and was able to translate it and still keep the original song Mortier created.
Helena was more fascinating with every word and the people she described, revolving around her and her story, were some of the most real and intriguing set of characters I have seen in a long time. They were all incredibly complex and tortured in their own ways.
However, the biggest problem I had with this book was its story. I feel that if this had been executed differently it could have been an instant classic. I just think there are parts that seemed to drag, like they were undoubtedly necessary but didn't feel like it. Also, or maybe because of that, it was hard to keep up. It jumped around a lot between times and it was easy to get lost, especially in a book of this nature that isn't completely memorable. I must admit that the smaller plotlines didn't stick with me as much and I honestly skim-read though a few parts. I was almost painful at times how slowly the plot moved, but I also believe that it was just part of the book and that if I had read it at a different time in different circumstances I would have enjoyed it a whole lot more.
This is definitely not for everyone. Fans of detailed and magically written Historical Fiction will love While the Gods Were Sleeping, so I would absolutely recommend giving it a try. There is something truly tragic and magical about this book that needs to be spread through the world, and First World War novels are, surely, incredibly proud of this one.

Twenty Trillion Leagues Under the Sea (Adam Roberts, Mahendra Singh - Illustrator)

Synopsis:
Adam Roberts revisits Jules Verne's classic novel in a collaboration with the illustrator behind a recent highly acclaimed edition of The Hunting of the Snark.
It is 1958 and France's first nuclear submarine, Plongeur, leaves port for the first of its sea trials. On board, gathered together for the first time, are one of the Navy's most experienced captains and a tiny skeleton crew of sailors, engineers, and scientists. The Plongeur makes her first dive and goes down, and down and down. Out of control, the submarine plummets to a depth where the pressure will crush her hull, killing everyone on board, and beyond. The pressure builds, the hull protests, the crew prepare for death, the boat reaches the bottom of the sea and finds nothing. Her final dive continues, the pressure begins to relent, but the depth guage is useless. They have gone miles down. Hundreds of miles, thousands, and so it goes on. Onboard the crew succumb to madness, betrayal, religious mania, and murder. Has the Plongeur left the limits of our world and gone elsewhere?

Review:
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review.
Going into this book I was expecting something like a retelling of Jules Verne's 20.000 Leagues Under the Sea, maybe with a modern sci-fi sort of twist. Although I haven't read that book yet, I am pretty sure Twenty Trillion Leagues Under the Sea is nothing like I just described.
Before I start the actual review, I need to address the fact that half-way through the book I discovered Adam Roberts also wrote The Soddit under the name A.R.R.R. Roberts, a parody of The Hobbit that I read last year and extremely enjoyed. The writing was just as intriguing and the story just as weird and gripping. However, in The Soddit the combination of the author's imagination with his wits and strange plotlines created an hilarious and fast-paced story, whereas in Twenty Trillion Leagues Under the Sea it was just odd. That's the best word I can think of. Odd.
First of all, this was a good book. It was good. It definitely didn't blow my mind and the collection of french names was not easy to follow, but there was something about how strange it was that kept me reading on. I honestly wanted to get to the end and know what was causing all those shenanigans.
To me, the story just dragged a little bit, there were moments where it felt like nothing was happening, and I felt there were deaths and violent and gory descriptions that were just a bit unnecessary, like they were there for effect or the eccentric factor.I couldn't like any of the characters. They were all so proud and crazy, always trying to prove themselves and their manly power. In this case, I don't reckon we are supposed to like the characters, but I believe this is a classic example of men in power and how keeping a cool head in extreme situations is impossible to them sometimes and it can lead to war - internal and external. Linked to this is the lack of female characters. I know this is set in 1958 and a woman in a war submarine might have been somehow too much to ask for, but I still wish there had been at least one involved in some way in this project.
Another thing that lowered my rating was how uneven this book felt. For about three fourths of the story it was slow and not too crazy. It was just the crew of the Plongeur falling through a huge body of water without being able to do anything about it (kind of). But there was a point where everything just turned bizarre and freaky. It seemed like two different books and I was completely lost - I had now idea what had just happened and I was like that until the end. The ending only confused me more, to be honest.
Now, I have to admit that there are a lot of redeeming qualities, the most impressive of which is the illustrations. They helped the story a lot. The helped me visualise the extraordinary descriptions that were almost impossible to imagine. They were mysterious and wonderful and a beautiful and awesome addition to the book.
I definitely recommend giving this a try, because I feel that this isn't for everyone. I was still very entertained and will absolutely read more books by Adam Roberts if I get the chance.

Beat the Turtle Drum (Constance C. Greene)

Synopsis:
An ALA Notable Book and an IRA-CBC Children’s Choice: Losing your sister can mean losing your best friend too
Thirteen-year-old Kate is thrilled for her sister, Joss, when Joss finds out she gets to keep a horse for a week as a birthday present.
Then in one tragic moment, all of the happiness is gone, and numbness and grief overwhelm the family. Kate cannot imagine how she’ll survive but knows somehow she must come to terms with her loss. In this heart-wrenching story, Kate strives to find a place where joyful memories and painful loss can coexist.

Review:
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review.
I must say that I was immediately sold on the synopsis of this book. I sounded like the quick, emotional read I needed. And although it wasn't exactly like I expected it to be, Beat the Turtle Drum was, in fact, an extremely beautiful and moving book.
Overall, the story was interesting and I loved seeing such a wonderfully close sister relationship like Kate and Joss's. We got to know them through the course of the months that preceded the turning point. You can pretty much guess what happens from the synopsis, but when it comes, it hits you like a brick wall, especially if you have a sibling yourself and you can't imagine what you would do if it happened to them. In that sense, it was an heart wrenching tale that definitely stays with you for a long time.
However, I felt that there was nothing new besides what we can deduce from the synopsis and kind of changes the experience, had I not read it before. Nevertheless the writing brough something new to the book and keeps you reading on. There is so much to say, even if we already know it, no matter the size of this small story.
I really adored this book and I honestly believe that it probably would have been one of my favourite books had I read it when I was younger. I recommend this to younger kids that want to start reading books that deal with more serious themes and want to discover a new favourite author.

The Rose Master (Valentina Cano)

Synopsis:
The day Anne Tinning turns seventeen, birds fall from the sky. But that's hardly the most upsetting news. She's being dismissed from the home she's served at since she was a child, and shipped off to become the newly hired parlor maid for a place she's never heard of. And when she sees the run-down, isolated house, she instantly knows why:
There's something wrong with Rosewood Manor.
Staffed with only three other servants, all gripped by icy silence and inexplicable bruises, and inhabited by a young master who is as cold as the place itself, the house is shrouded in neglect and thick with fear. Her questions are met with hushed whispers, and she soon finds herself alone in the empty halls, left to tidy and clean rooms no one visits.
As the feeling of being watched grows, she begins to realize there is something else in the house with them--some creature that stalks the frozen halls and claws at her door. A creature that seems intent on harming her.
When a fire leaves Anne trapped in the manor with its Master, she finally demands to know why. But as she forces the truth about what haunts the grounds from Lord Grey, she learns secrets she isn't prepared for. The creature is very real, and she's the only one who can help him stop it.
Now, Anne must either risk her life for the young man she's grown to admire, or abandon her post while she still can.

Review:
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review.
I have seen this book being described as Beauty and the Beast meets Jane Eyre and I can totally see why. It definitely has that victorian gothic, horror, haunted house with a huge secret feel we get while experiencing these stories.
I think the strongest point of this book was the writing, without a doubt. It was so intricate and beautiful and completely set the tone of the book, as Valentina Cano was able to convey that dark, eerie feel through her writing. It actually gave me chills at some points and I would read toilet paper instructions if it were written by this woman. Seriously.On the other side, though, the story itself left a lot to be desired. Don't get me wrong, the plot was so intriguing and I was on the edge of my seat, biting my nails the whole time I was reading. The atmosphere was all there, that instensity, the oppressing feeling of the cold and the ghosts that haunted Rosewood Manor and its Master. But I just couldn't enjoy it as much as I could have if it had been executed differently.
Fist of all, I felt the events could have been developed a bit more. I felt like the story just dragged a little for the fist half or so and then everything was happening, like the climax happened there and then it died down from there. It was intense, I'll give it that, but I wish there had been more story and that everything wasn't so thrown at the reader and the main character, Anne, all at once. There were points where I had to force myself to continue, even though I was enjoying it. There was just so much to process I needed to take breaks. It took me a really long time to read this 200-page book because of that.
My second point is that I wasn't a huge fan of the romance aspect. I knew it was coming, but I always find it hard to appreciate when it's so predictable and fast. I just didn't find it was very believable, but, on second thought, that was probably just me. I honestly trust that there are readers who love cringe worthy romances and I think this would be perfect for them. Like I said, it just wasn't for me.
The characters were another of the strong points of this book, in my opinion. They were really well developed and I loved the backstory we got throughout the story. I mainly loved the fact that Lord Grey was so flawed, like he wasn't supposed to be perfect and swoon worthy. He was thin and kind of a twit, but he was also kind, deep down, and cared about his staff, especially Anne. The only problem I had with this aspect was the fact that I couldn't feel a connection with any of them. I didn't particularly relate to them and I actually felt really detached.After all that, I must admit that this was still a really enjoyable read and I wholeheartedly believe this author has a lot of potential and could create a classic tale one day.

All the Bright Places (Jennifer Niven)

Synopsis:
The Fault in Our Stars meets Eleanor and Park, All the Bright Places is a compelling and beautiful story about a girl who learns to live from a boy who intends to die.
Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him. Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister's recent death.When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it's unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the 'natural wonders' of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It's only with Violet that Finch can be himself - a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who's not such a freak after all. And it's only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet's world grows, Finch's begins to shrink.An intense, gripping YA novel, perfect for fans of John Green, Jay Asher, Rainbow Rowell, Gayle Forman and Jenny Downham.About the author: Jennifer Niven is the author of two narrative non-fiction books, The Ice Master and Ada Blackjack; a high school memoir, The Aqua Net Diaries; and four historical novels for adults: Velva Jean Learns to Drive (based on her Emmy Award-winning film of the same name), Velva Jean Learns to Fly, Becoming Clementine, and the forthcoming American Blonde. Jennifer lives in Los Angeles and you can learn more about her at www.jenniferniven.com. All the Bright Places is her first book for young adults.

Review:
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review.
First, I will say that this book deserves all the hype it gets and more. Every teenager and adult should read it, especially if they are going through mental issues or know someone who is. It is extremely important to talk about these issues before suicide seemed an option to someone suffering from them. On that note, I believe authors are being less afraid of writing about it and are venturing into what could be an age of true information for teenagers on what suicide means to them and the people who stay behind, and, in my opinion, Jennifer Niven really set an example with All the Bright Places.
The writing was extremely energetic and sad and beautiful, one of those styles of writing you just can't help but admire because it completed the story so well. There are only a hand-full of authors these days with such a poignant writing style as Jennifer Niven.The story was, of course, emotional and meaningful, full of amazing metaphors and symbolism. But it was also a really uplifting, inspiring and fun at times, showing us that there is hope, there is love, there is friendship if we let those things into our minds and hearts in times of trouble. Mental diseases can make it seem like it's impossible to be loved or to love, but I think this books shows how it's possible, or what can happen if we let those feelings prevail. It was a pleasure to go through this story with Violet and Finch. Absolutely lovely.
The characters were real to me, they were developed in such a realistic way that it made the story even more difficult to deal with. Violet and Finch's relationship was so wonderful to read about and warmed my hart while crushing it to pieces at the same time. They both had issues of their own to deal with and they helped each other, although some times it can be hard to realise it, as the ending demonstrated. Because I was dealing with similar problems at the time that I read this, I could relate with either one, but especially Finch and his way of seeing the world.
At the end, I can, without a doubt, say that this book helped me in ways I couldn't explained if I tried and, although I didn't cry as I was expecting, I came out a different and better person after that final page.
I honestly hope this book becomes a huge success so it can reach a broader audience, and it can help others as it helped me, show how a light can be found it the darkness of the deep blue hole.

Quozl (Alan Dean Foster)

Synopsis:
Rabbitlike aliens from outer space colonize Earth during humankind’s Second World War in a delightfully funny and thought-provoking science fiction adventure.
The Quozl just need somewhere to call home. A gentle race of extraterrestrial rabbits, they have a propensity for reproduction that has left their home planet, Quozlene, dangerously overpopulated, and in their search for greener and less-crowded pastures, they have discovered the perfect place to start over: the third planet away from a healthy, warming sun. What they don’t realize is that this world they call Shiraz is already inhabited by a species of violent sentient creatures known as humans.
But there’s no going back now. In the midst of the brutal and helpfully distracting global conflict the Shirazians call World War II, the colony ship lands undetected, and the space rabbits immediately go into hiding. But a secret like the Quozl can be concealed for only so long, especially when their numbers start to increase and certain rebellious members of the long-eared society decide the time is ripe to claim their place in a world they believe is rightfully theirs.
One of the most admired and prolific authors in the science fiction arena, Alan Dean Foster will delight readers who hunger for something different with this funny, thoughtful, and wildly inventive novel of first contact and coexistence. Once you meet the Quozl, you will never forget them.

Review:
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review.
I need to start by saying that I barely read any books set in space, or with alien characters, so I am not an expert on this matter, but I think I can honestly say this is probably one of the best developed out there right now.
The Quozl culture, their costumes, their identity as inteligent beings, their way of living. It felt as if nothing was left out. Everything was interestingly detailed and analysed, leaving us with the sense that we knew them as well as the author, there was nothing else we could ask for that wasn't mentioned here. The story didn't feel shallow, basic. It went kilometers deep into Quozl history.
I especially adored the way it was funny and light and easy to read, but also extremely profound, scientific and fascinating. It made these little guys feel so real and the story so much more intense and fast to get trough.
The next thing that needs to be acknowledged is the way these aliens see the world they are about to enter. In the beginning of the story we see the crew of the Sequencer, after generations and generations of interspace travel from their overpopulated planet, Quozl, as they land on a new (supposedly) unoccupied planet, Shiraz. However, as they study it further, they discover it has already been popularized by other intelligent beings. They landed on Earth. As peaceful, respectful and polite creatures, the Quozl are aghast when they start studying Humans and learn of their violent wars. That's probably what stuck me the most, the views they had on the Human society and their way of exposing it. In my opinion, it was brilliantly made and it was carried all throughout the story.
I believe these alien colonists really force us to see what we have let technology, evolution and Human nature do to the world we live in and give an example everyone reading would want to follow.
I absolutely loved to love and loved to hate some of the characters. Not because they were detestable, but because they were so clueless and naive. Anyhow, all of the characters were explored and described immensely well and we get to met such a diverse set of them that it's hard to point out any negative aspects.
The relationship between aliens and humans was one of the best aspects about the last half of the book. The differences and similarities, especially the differences in the dialogue, was what, in my opinion, took this story to the next level.
The ending was not how I pictured it, but it was still really good, and showed that a book like this can remain constant and true to itself and still keep you guessing and reading on. There is always something new to discover, until the very last page. I utterly believe we would like to think that that is not how things would play out, but I think, deep down, we all hope for it. There is no way to guess what would actually happen, but Alan Dean Foster did a remarkable job.
Although this isn't a recent book, I would still absolutely recommend it. It was, overall, such an interesting, enjoyable, amusing book, with cute moments, awkward scenes and lovable characters. Under all the subtle humour, it is the kind of sci-fi novel that makes us wonder 'what if?'

One last thing: because I read this as an ebook, I didn't get to experience the flip-a-motion art inside the original paperback copies of Quozl, but I found a video and I leave it here if you also like to watch it: