Mini-Reviews: All the Rage, More of Me, Fans of the Impossible Life & More

It's time for me to do some mini-reviews! The amount of book reviews that I need to write is slowly but surely reaching a number that is so epic, it is hard to even think about it. The best course of action for me is to write some mini-reviews, rather than trying to find space on the schedule for 1200 book reviews. The following mini-reviews are all for the wonderful books I received for review from lovereading4kids. I have been so impressed by my recent reads by them, I have had none recently that were lower than 4 star reads. I have been having a great start to my 2016 reading year, it makes me a little nervous as I really want this to continue. 

Title: All the Rage

Author: Courtney Summers

Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books

Buy this book: Amazon / Book Depository

Kellan Turner is not the golden boy everyone thinks he is and Romy Grey knows that for a fact. But when she speaks up, she is branded a liar. Telling the truth has cost her everything, because no one wants to believe a girl from the wrong side of town.But when news of Kellan assaulting another girl gets out, the cost of staying silent might be more than Romy can bear.All The Rage examines the shame and silence inflicted upon young women in a culture that refuses to protect them.

I don't believe in forgiveness. I think if you hurt someone, it becomes part of you both. Each of you just has to live with it and the person you hurt gets to decide if they want to give you the chance to do it again. If they do and you're a good person, you won't make the same mistakes. Just whole new ones.

Courtney Summers delivers something truly spectacular with All the Rage, I was so beyond impressed with this novel. This is a novel that really doesn't hold back, it takes an honest and very raw approach to a very serious subject - rape. This is a subject that it's so vital for us to be able to talk about, but it's one that so many find difficult to do. All the Rage was beautiful and moving, the kind of book I am not going to easily forget. I think this is a book that will be held in high regard, one that will hopefully receive as much praise and awards as similar books, like Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson.

He only said it to remind me that he's here, he likes me. That he's nice. Leon is nice. That doesn't mean he's safe.

Half Bad Trilogy: Witches, Magic and Romance!

Title: Half Bad
Author: Sally Green
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Buy this book: Amazon / Book Depository

Wanted by no one.Hunted by everyone.Sixteen-year-old Nathan lives in a cage: beaten, shackled, trained to kill. In a modern-day England where two warring factions of witches live amongst humans, Nathan is an abomination, the illegitimate son of the world's most terrifying and violent witch, Marcus. Nathan's only hope for survival is to escape his captors, track down Marcus, and receive the three gifts that will bring him into his own magical powers—before it's too late. But how can Nathan find his father when there is no one safe to trust, not even family, not even the girl he loves?

I read Half Bad for the first time early last year and I instantly fell in love with the series. This is a book that is set in our world, but witches live amongst us - but, of course, us mere mortals are totally oblivious to the fact they exist. I loved Sally Green's unique writing style, and how she switched between second and third person.

Weekly Recap: I'm Drowning in ARCs!

I am rather proud of myself. I said I would come back to blogging and so far I am actually sticking to it. I have wrote a bunch of posts, replied to over 300 comments and visited a bunch of my favourite blogs. It feels nice to be back and blogging again. I really hope I stick to this, my aim is to post at least 3 times a week, and I managed 4 last week so that's good.

This week has mostly just been me working. I can tell I am back at work and also blogging again, my reading it taking a massive hit because of it. Although, to be fair, I am already seven books ahead on my reading goal. That was thanks to having the first week of January off work. Christmas stole all my money as I have so many people to buy for, that has meant 0 money in January to buy any books. That is most definitely a good thing as my seven bookshelves are full and my floor is covered in books I need to find space for!

This week I have reread the first two books in the Half Bad series and am just about to finish Half Wild.... IT IS AMAZING!!! My shipper heart is going to die of happiness. And now I am even more excited for whatever Sally Green does next.

The haul this week is the other half of the huge eARC haul that I got in the last month. It is massive and the books are all so awesome and I just want all the time so I can get to them all. Why do I have to be a grown up, and work, and pay bills?!? Boooooo!

Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan: Norse Mythology is AWESOME!

Title: Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer
Author: Rick Riordan
Publisher: Puffin
Buy this book: Amazon / Book Depository

Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his mother's mysterious death, he's lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers. One day, he's tracked down by an uncle he's never met—a man his mother claimed was dangerous. His uncle tells him an impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god. The Viking myths are true. The gods of Asgard are preparing for war. Trolls, giants and worse monsters are stirring for doomsday. To prevent Ragnarok, Magnus must search the Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years. When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus makes a fatal decision. Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die . . .

When I tell people I haven't
read Percy Jackson

I want to start my review by confessing that I have yet to finish the Percy Jackson series. I know, this might seem sacrilegious to some of you lovely bloggers. I read the first two but then didn't continue, but it is something I do want to do. I enjoyed the characters and the humour in the first two books but. the books felt very middle grade and I sometimes struggle with that. The main problem was that they were a little too predictable and felt a bit too young. I know I need to continue the series because, much like Harry Potter, the characters age as they go along and so will the story. Plus, as Sword of Summer has proven to me, Rick Riordan is one talented author. I really want to finish the PJ series so I can get to the Heroes of Olympus series, I really think that series will work for me a lot better.

I was actually very eager to start Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer, as the characters were starting off a lot older and it just felt like it was aimed at young adults. I finally felt I could jump straight into a Rick Riordan book and just love it, without pushing through just waiting for later books. I suddenly understood why people rave about Rick Riordan and his writing and this book has made me determined to devour everything else he writes. I read this book all the way back in July last year, but never managed to get my review together. It's time to change that. I want to take an opportunity to gush about his witty, memorable characters and action-packed, fast paced writing.

HELP! What Book Do I Read Next?

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at The Broke & The Bookish.

This weeks topic is:

2015 Releases I Still Need To Get To

I like this weeks topic because it gives me the opportunity to hold a poll. I have so many 2015 releases that I still need to get to and haven't yet. It's actually hard to just pick ten of them, as I have so many that I really need to hurry up and read. I always suck at deciding which one to get to next, so hopefully holding a poll means you guys can decide for me. 

Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman and Their Fractured Light by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Legacy of Kings is a book that I have actually seen a very mixed bunch of reviews for, but I recently got it for Christmas and want to take the time to read it. It mixes fantasy and real aspects of history and the premise just sounds so good. I am really hoping I enjoy this one. I also have to get to Their Fracture Light and see how that series ends. I will just have to reread the first two before I can, as I forget details. I loved book one, but enjoyed book two a little less and hope the third one is a great conclusion to the series.