Bookmas 2022 Day 5!

It’s Bookmas 2022 Day 5 and that means it’s time for my Favourite YA Book of 2022.

Drum roll, please…

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys

I LOVED THIS BOOK!

I will provide the synopsis and then we can talk more about it.

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys

‘Romania, 1989. Communist regimes are crumbling across Europe. Seventeen-year-old Cristian Florescu dreams of becoming a writer, but Romanians aren’t free to dream; they are bound by rules and force.

Amidst the tyrannical dictatorship of Nicolae Ceaușescu in a country governed by isolation and fear, Cristian is blackmailed by the secret police to become an informer. He’s left with only two choices: betray everyone and everything he loves—or use his position to creatively undermine the most notoriously evil dictator in Eastern Europe.

Cristian risks everything to unmask the truth behind the regime, give voice to fellow Romanians, and expose to the world what is happening in his country. He eagerly joins the revolution to fight for change when the time arrives. But what is the cost of freedom?’

I am a massive fan of Ruta Sepetys, so as soon as I saw this book I knew I had to read it. As with all of Ruta Sepetys’ works, I went into this book with very high expectations, and thankfully it didn’t disappoint. I will freely admit that Ruta Sepetys is one of my all-time favourite Historical Fiction writers so I knew this book would be a great read, I just hadn’t expected that it would still be one that I think about months after I finished reading it.

This is the first Historical Fiction book I think I have ever read that is set within the USSR during the Cold War, so I was fascinated by the topic from the moment I started reading this book. To read about the struggles that those living in Communist Romania were going through, as well as the mental anguish of being watched and not knowing who you can trust was truly heartbreaking.

As with all of Ruta Sepetys’ works, the characters drive the story and the characters in this book were so layered and human that I couldn’t help feeling what they felt as the story progressed. This is one of those stories that made me question what I would have done or what I would have tried to do if I was in these characters’ situations. As much as I wanted to dislike certain characters, the way in which Ruta Sepetys crafted them makes it hard to not understand where they were coming from and why they made certain choices.

After reading this book I have found myself adding more books about this time period onto my wish list and tbr pile, as Ruta Sepetys’ ability to transport a reader to a different time and place is so wonderful that I can’t not learn more about Communist Romania.

I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about this book and I am so very happy to be naming it my favourite YA read of 2022.

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That’s it for Bookmas Day 5!

I will catch you all tomorrow for Bookmas Day 6!

Happy Reading Everyone…

~>GEM<~

Bookmas 2022 Day 2!

It’s Bookmas 2022 Day 2 and that means it’s time for my Favourite Retelling of 2022!

Drum roll, please…

Mirror, Mirror by Jen Calonita 

I LOVED THIS BOOK!

I will provide the synopsis and then we can talk more about it.

Mirror, Mirror by Jen Calonita

‘What if the Evil Queen poisoned the prince?

Following her beloved mother’s death, the kingdom falls into the hands of Snow White’s stepmother, commonly referred to as “the Evil Queen” by those she rules. Snow keeps her head down at the castle, hoping to make the best of her situation.

But when new information about her parents resurfaces and a plot to kill her goes haywire, everything changes for Snow. With the help of a group of wary dwarfs, a kind prince she thought she’d never see again, and a mysterious stranger from her past, Snow embarks on a quest to stop the Evil Queen and take back her kingdom. But can she stop an enemy who knows her every move and will stop at nothing to retain her power… including going after the ones Snow loves?’ 

This is one of those books that I wasn’t sure I would like before I went into it but ended up loving. I have read a few twisted tales before so I knew I enjoyed the concept but Snow White has never been my favourite story so I was surprised that I liked this book as much as I did.

One of the things I loved most about this book was that Snow White wasn’t a helpless victim; she was strong and smart, which made it easy to fall in love with her. I also loved that we still got some of the elements that make the original story so loved. Even if Snow White isn’t my favourite story, I still loved that this retelling was familiar and authentic to the original source material.

Jen Calonita did a fantastic job with this book. Her ability to craft a narrative that was fresh and new around a story that is so well-known was truly wonderful. Add to that her beautiful prose and stunning descriptions, and you have a book that will take you on a journey that you will not want to end.

I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about this book and I am so very happy to be naming it my favourite Retelling of 2022.

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That’s it for Bookmas Day 2!

I will catch you all tomorrow for Bookmas Day 3!

Happy Reading Everyone…

~>GEM<~

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys

‘Closely based on the real events of the Romanian Revolution of 1989.

At 17, Cristian dreams of being free but doesn’t know where to turn. In this climate of constant suspicion, can he trust his best friend, his girlfriend, or even his family?

Cristian has lived his entire life in the grip of an evil repressive dictatorship. The country is governed by fear. When the secret police blackmail him, Cristian has an impossible choice. Save the life of his sick grandfather by informing on his family, or risk his life – and all of theirs – by resisting?’

This book was fantastic.

I am a massive fan of Ruta Sepetys so I went into this book with high hopes. I am happy to say it not only lived up to my expectations it well and truly surpassed them.

I have read a lot of Historical Fiction over the years but this is the first time I have read anything about life in the USSR. I had knowledge of some of the events that were mentioned in this book but I was shocked that I didn’t know more about what was happening.

Given that this book is based on true events I was genuinely surprised that stories like this aren’t more well known and talked about. After reading this book I have decided to make the effort to learn more. Even though this is a Historical Fiction novel the characters felt completely real. They were flawed and utterly human which made this a truly compelling read.

Ruta Sepetys has an amazing ability to draw every emotion out of a reader with her writing. It has a beautiful cinematic quality to it that makes reading her books a pleasure even when the subject matter is heartbreaking and I must Betray You is the perfect example of her exceptional skill as an author.

I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about this book. I laughed, I cried, I loved, I hated and I finished this book feeling grateful that I got the chance to have such a wonderful reading experience.

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys is an absolute must-read for everyone.

October TBR…

It’s that time again… TBR… I had a great reading month in September, reading 13 books (1 book from my TBR). I am hoping for another great month in October. I am aiming to read 9 or 10 books in October.

As usual this TBR is bound to change but this is just what my TBR looks like at the moment.

Part Of Your World by Liz Braswell

Mirror, Mirror by Jen Calonita

The German Girl by Armando Lucas Correa

The Desolation Of Devil’s Acre by Ransom Riggs

The Wish by Nicholas Sparks

Kingdom Of The Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco

City Of Villains by Estelle Laure

Emmeline Pankhurst by Lisbeth Kaiser

Jane Austen by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

Before You Were Born by Katrina Germein

I guess we will see how I did in my October Wrap up. I hope you all have a great reading month, As usual keep your eye out for reviews.

Until next time…

Happy Reading…

~>GEM<~

Unbirthday by Liz Braswell

‘What if Wonderland was in peril and Alice was very, very late?

Alice is different than other eighteen-year-old ladies in Kexford, which is perfectly fine with her. She’d rather spend golden afternoons with her trusty camera or in her aunt Vivian’s lively salon, ignoring her sister’s wishes that she stop all that “nonsense” and become a “respectable” member of society. Alice is happy to meander to Miss. Yao’s teashop or to visit the children playing in the Square. She’s also interested in learning more about the young lawyer she met there, but just because she’s curious, of course, not because he was sweet and charming.

But when Alice develops photographs she has recently taken about town, familiar faces of old suddenly appear in the place of her actual subjects-the Queen of Hearts, the Mad Hatter, the Caterpillar. There’s something eerily off about them, even for Wonderland creatures. And as Alice develops a self-portrait, she finds the most disturbing image of all-a badly-injured dark-haired girl asking for Alice’s help. Mary Ann.

Returning to the place of nonsense from her childhood, Alice finds herself on a mission to stop the Queen of Hearts’ tyrannical rule and to find her place in both worlds. But will she able to do so . . . before the End of Time?’

I loved this book.

This wasn’t my first time reading either a Twisted Tale or an Alice In Wonderland retelling, so I had pretty high hopes for this book. I am very happy to say that Unbirthday didn’t just live up to my high expectation, it well and truly surpassed them.

One of the things I loved most about this book was that Alice was older. The aging of Alice added an extra layer of intellect and wisdom to the story yet it didn’t take anything away from the whimsy of Wonderland. The characters we know and love as well as the magic of Wonderland were still dominant in this book but with the unexpected and thoroughly entertaining counter-narrative of Alice’s life in England and its parallels to Wonderland.

Liz Braswell did a fantastic job weaving the Wonderland stories with the England stories together without compromising on either of the adventures that were playing out in them. The way that Braswell also merged the Wonderland characters and the England characters were utterly perfect and made for a truly awesome reading experience.

This book has everything you would hope to find in an Alice In Wonderland retelling; a weird and wacky story, frustrating yet loveable characters, and fabulous writing that draws the reader in and leaves them begging for more.

Unbirthday by Liz Braswell is not only a fantastic Alice In Wonderland retelling, but it’s also a brilliant addition to the Twisted Tales series.

The Light After The War by Anita Abriel

‘It is 1946 when Vera Frankel and her best friend Edith Ban arrive in Naples. Refugees from Hungary, they managed to escape from a train headed for Auschwitz and spent the rest of the war hiding on an Austrian farm. Now, the two young women must start new lives abroad. Armed with a letter of recommendation from an American officer, Vera finds work at the United States embassy where she falls in love with Captain Anton Wight.

But as Vera and Edith grapple with the aftermath of the war, so too does Anton, and when he suddenly disappears, Vera is forced to change course. Their quest for a better life takes Vera and Edith from Naples to Ellis Island to Caracas as they start careers, reunite with old friends, and rebuild their lives after terrible loss.’

This book was amazing.

This book captivated me from the very first page. The characters were amazing, the writing was beautiful and the story was equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking. Knowing that this story is based on Anita Abriel’s Mother’s journey after World War Two added an extra layer of emotion to this already emotional story.

There are so many books out there that cover the Second World War yet there are not that many that follow the lives of survivors after the war ended. Seeing the way different characters deal with their trauma and build new lives makes for an interesting and heartfelt reading experience.

Anita Abriel has done a fantastic job in creating relatable flawed characters that are just trying to keep their heads above water. Following these utterly human characters in the post-war years shows the reverberating damage that the war caused on so many people all around the world.

I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about this book. I didn’t want to put it down and I was sad when I came to the end. If you want a book that has an amazing story, with believable characters and fantastic writing, then this is the book for you.

The Light After The War by Anita Abriel will stay with you long after the final page.

2021 Birthday Haul…

As I celebrated my Birthday earlier in the week, I thought I would do a birthday haul today.

I was spoilt by my family so I wont be going into detail about what I was lucky enough to receive; this will just be a list sort of thing.

So without further ado, let’s jump in to my Birthday Haul!

The Light After The War by Anita Abriel

Let It Go by Jen Calonita

The German Girl by Armando Lucas Correa

The Grandest Bookshop In The World by Amelia Mellor

Unbirthday by Liz Braswell

Freed by E.L. James

Mega Monster by David Walliams

A Is For Australia by Frane Lessac

Journal

Harry Potter Puzzle

Schitt’s Creek Puzzle

Puzzle Mat

Bingo Board Game

Two Dinosaur Plaster Paints

Paint You Own Unicorn Mug

Paint Your Own Flower pots

Paints

Paint Brushes

Unicorn Cross Stitch Kit

Floral Embroidery Kit

Five new Instagram photo backdrops

Instagram prop flowers

Instagram prop decorations

Wooden Storage Crate

Shampoo

Conditioner

Body Wash

Body Butter

Face Balm

Vegemite Pajamas

Socks

Undies

Birthday Badge

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Now that the Haul part is over, I will just give you a quick rundown on how my day went. As I am located in one of the LGA’s in Sydney that are in lockdown, I just had a quite night at home with my family. We ordered dinner, had a fantastic rainbow cake, and then we all played bingo; with certificates and prizes for the winners.

I am very thankful to my family for all the present and laughs, and for making my birthday a special one.

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Well that’s it from me. I hope you all enjoyed this post. I will see you all back here next Sunday for a new Sunday Session Post.

Until then…

Happy Reading…

~>GEM<~

The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys

‘Madrid, 1957. Under the fascist dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, Spain is hiding a dark secret. Meanwhile, tourists and foreign businessmen flood into Spain under the welcoming promise of sunshine and wine. Among them is eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson, the son of an oil tycoon, who arrives in Madrid with his parents hoping to connect with the country of his mother’s birth through the lens of his camera. Photography–and fate–introduce him to Ana, whose family’s interweaving obstacles reveal the lingering grasp of the Spanish Civil War–as well as chilling definitions of fortune and fear. Daniel’s photographs leave him with uncomfortable questions amidst shadows of danger. He is backed into a corner of difficult decisions to protect those he loves. Lives and hearts collide, revealing an incredibly dark side to the sunny Spanish city.’

I have mixed feelings on this book.

I am a huge fan of Ruta Sepetys, so I went into this book with high hopes. Most of the previous Ruat Sepetys books I have been read have been set in World War 2, so I was interested to read a book set in Spain under the Spanish dictatorship.

As usual Ruta Sepetys writing was on point. The emotions radiated of the page, and the descriptions transported me to a different time and place. I know very little about Spain yet reading Ruta Sepetys descriptions made me feel like I knew the country and the people that live there.

The characters in this book were a little hit and miss for me. I really loved and related to some of them, while others just didn’t connect. Some of the personalities these characters had frustrated me and I was not excited when they were the lead narratives in certain chapters.

I loved the inclusion of vintage media reports, oral history commentary, and photos; these additions added an extra layer to this story. I also appreciated the Spanish translations that were included in the back of the book.

I think the major issue I have with this book was that I wasn’t excited by the story. I didn’t have any knowledge of this time period so I didn’t have anything to anchor this story to in my own mind. As I didn’t really enjoy the story, I found it difficult to really care and commit to the characters individual journeys.

As you can see I didn’t dislike this book but I also didn’t love it. I genuinely enjoyed parts of it, but overall it wasn’t for me.

The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys is out now.

Evermore by Sara Holland

‘Jules Ember was raised hearing legends of the ancient magic of the wicked Alchemist and the good Sorceress. But she has just learned the truth: not only are the stories true, but she herself is the Alchemist, and Caro—a woman who single-handedly murdered the Queen and Jules’s first love, Roan, in cold blood—is the Sorceress.

The whole kingdom believes that Jules is responsible for the murders, and a hefty bounty has been placed on her head. And Caro is intent on destroying Jules, who stole her heart twelve lifetimes ago. Jules must delve into the stories that she now recognizes are accounts of her own past. For it is only by piecing together the mysteries of her lives that Jules will be able to save the person who has captured her own heart in this one.’

This book was fabulous.

After completing Everless I couldn’t wait to jump into this book. Thankfully it not only lived up to my high expectations, it well and truly surpassed them.

I loved the world that Sara Holland created in Everless so I was excited that we got to learn more about it and its history in this book. We also got to learn more about the characters histories which I didn’t expect; but really enjoyed.

Speaking of characters, I loved that we not only go to watch the characters we met in Everless grow throughout this book; both individually and together, we also got a collection of new characters to learn about. The addition of these new characters added a new dynamic to the relationships in this book which I found fascinating.

Since Everless was so full of action I was afraid that this book would be more subdued, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. It was fast paced and action packed from the very first page. The plot of this book; and this series as a whole, needed to be developed as such a fast pace in order for the reader to feel the panic of the situation. As much as I would love another book in this series, I honestly think the decision to make this a duology was genius.

Sara Holland has done a wonderful job with this book and the series as a whole. I enjoyed every single page and I am sad that my Everless journey has come to an end. My only regret in regards to this duology is that I didn’t pick it up sooner.

Evermore by Sara Holland is the perfect conclusion to a fantastic duology.

Stranger Than FanFiction by Chris Colfer

‘Cash Carter is the young, world famous lead actor of the hit television Wiz Kids. When four fans jokingly invite him on a cross-country road trip, they are shocked that he actually takes them up on it. Chased by paparazzi and hounded by reporters, this unlikely crew takes off on a journey of a lifetime–but along the way they discover that the star they love has deep secrets he’s been keeping. What they come to learn about the life of the mysterious person they thought they knew will teach them about the power of empathy and the unbreakable bond of true friendship.’

This book was great.

I have had this book on my TBR pile for a long time and I have never gotten around to reading it. Now that I have, I regret not reading it sooner as I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This isn’t the first road trip book that I have read but it is up there with one of the best. One of the things I loved about the road trip in this book was that it went to random and unusual places. Usually when reading a road trip book is set in America, the characters always stop at the same tourist destinations, whereas this book took readers to places that were strange yet wonderful.

Another fantastic element of this book is the diversity of the characters. This book features characters of colour as well having some fantastic LGBTQI+ representation. As well as being diverse, these characters where fun, odd, and utterly relatable. Getting to see these characters grow up and open up over the course of the road trip was equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking.

Christ Colfer has done a lovely job with this book. My only real issue with it is his use of caps and italics. These elements were over used and ended up getting on my nerves. As for the actually plot of this book; it was easy to follow and made for a quick and enjoyable reading experience.

Stranger Than FanFiction by Chris Colfer is well worth the read.