Review of Gemina by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman

Gemina by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman

Moving to  a space station from the edge of the galaxy was always going to be hazardous and the subsequent death of Hanna's social life. However none of her supervisors advised that it might actually get her killed. 

This is the second book in the sci-fi saga that began with Illuminae, this book continues the story on board the Jump Ship Heimdall and we are introduces to the two new characters who will confront the next wave of the BeiTech assault.

Hanna is the pampered station captain's daughter and Nik is the reluctant member of the notorious crime family. However while the two of them are struggling with the realities of their new life on board the most boring space station. Little do they know that the infamous Kady Grant and the Hypatia are heading right for them carrying onboard the news of the invasion of Karanza soil. 

When the Elite strike team of BeiTechs forces invades the station, the unlikely pair of Nik and Hanna are thrown together leaving them trying to work out a way to defend their new home. The Alien predators are slowly picking of the stations colonists one-by-one and there is a malfunction in the stations wormhole which means that the space time continuum might be ripped in two before the end of the day. Hanna and Nik are not the only fighting for their life, it turns out that the fate of everyone on the Hypatia and the universe has been thrust onto the young shoulders.

This is a writing style which is done in the form of communication records and official records just like the previous book in the trilogy. Kristoff and Kaufman have achieved via this method a story which makes you want to continue to dig into the information and make links between each article and watch how Nik and Hanna's relationship changing from casual acquaintances to a strong friendship which they will be needing to survive the things which are going to be thrown at them. I gave a cheer when despite all odds they survived and band together with Ella, Niks cousin, to save the rest of the people in the space station and themselves

Click the following link to get your copy of the book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gemina-Illuminae-Files-Book/dp/1780749813/ref=as_li_ss_tl?crid=3E313B8R1G30X&dchild=1&keywords=gemina+the+illuminae+files+book+2&qid=1592508215&sprefix=gemina,aps,202&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mystickt-21&linkId=556ce80bffe8046a7b8d9eb843197bf1&language=en_GB

Review of Birthday by Meredith Russo

Birthday by Meredith Russo

From the author of If I Was Your Girl, this book is an unconventional love story which is centred around two friends and how Morgan comes to terms with his identity.

Two kids Morgan and Eric, are linked for life due to their parents being in hospital when the boys were born on the same day and time. The story centres around their birthday - which they always share together and see how they have grown and changed. Eric has figured our who he is and how he fits into the world, however Morgan makes the difficult choice to live as her true self.

Over the years they ultimately drift apart, then come together again, fight, make-up and break up. They will ultimately realise that they are part of each other and they will be linked for life. 

The story starts on the 13th birthday where they are celebrating their birthday at the local water park and Morgan tries to tell her best friend that she has been born in the wrong body. This doesn't go to plan and when they part on that day they are not speaking and it has been made even more difficult as Morgans mother passed away from cancer just 2 short years ago.

We make our way through the years hearing about their 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th Birthday - and we get a snapshot of Morgan and Eric along with their family life and their sexuality. The story centres around the 3 days surrounding the birthdays and how they celebrate with each other. This story is written in dual POV style and through this we watch Morgan and Eric go through some hard decisions and you really feel for them - i felt all of the pain that they went through because of the writing style used by Russo. Once we have the big reveal and see that love prevails but will it survive .... my god I wanted it to survive. I love this story so much and will share it with my friends and family, especially my Trans MTF 18 year old as it may help him with his transition.

Please click the link below to buy your copy:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Birthday-Meredith-Russo/dp/1474967418/ref=as_li_ss_tl?crid=2YPP31WSL0OWE&dchild=1&keywords=birthday+meredith+russo&qid=1592347542&sprefix=birthday+mer,aps,171&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mystickt-21&linkId=a5e5e5b02f6451d8bbe21768577ce899&language=en_GB

Review of What If It's Us (Book #1) by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

What If It's Us (Book #1) by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

Arthur is only staying in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him any lessons it is that the universe works in mysterious ways. And nothing is more unexpected than a showstopping romance for all ages at the time you least expect it.

Ben thinks that the universe is messing with him and he wants the universe to mind its own business. He feels that he has had the universe had his back then he wouldn't be going to the post office with a box of his ex's boyfriends things which were left when they broke up. When Arthur and Ben meed in a chance encounter at the post office both cant help but think what the universe has in store for them.

Then the universe throws a curve ball and they get separated and then meeting again, reuniting them. However what will happen if they can not nail the crucial first date or the following dates. Arthur can think what will happen if he tries to half while Ben is wondering what if he deosn't try hard enough. Can life really be like the way that a Broadway show plays put?

This book is written in the style of duel points of view - switching between Arthur and Ben's story lines. This is one of my favourite writing styles as I find that duel POV helps make the story have more depth and allows for a more round build of the character. This is the new version of the love story and all of its twist and turns with the character finally uniting together.

Please click the following link to but your copy of the book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=as_li_ss_tl?k=what+if+its+us&crid=2NL35D2YAUDQD&sprefix=what+if,aps,187&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_7_7&linkCode=ll2&tag=mystickt-21&linkId=5dbff39c0947c7038f56a055f59cf338&language=en_GB

Review of Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy (Book #1) by Ricelle Mead

Only the truest of best friend can protect you from your immortal enemies....

Lissa Dragomir is the Moroi princess, an mortal vampire with a rare gift for harassing the skills of earth magic. She must be protected at all cost hours a day from the Strigoi - the fiercest of the vampire race, the ones who never die. With the powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through the veins of Rose Hathaway, Lissa's best friend and makes her a dhampir. Rose's life is dedicated to the perilous  and dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigo, who have a hel bent mission to make Lissa one of them.

However after two year of freedom for Lissa and Rose, the have been caught and forcefully dragged back to St Valdimirs Academy. This academy is a vampire school for royalty and their guardian to be. The academy is hidden in the deepest forests fin Montana and is protected by a magical force field. Inside the iron gates which should be a sanctuary for all however life is fraught with danger and this means that the Strigoi are always close by.

Rose and Lissa must navigate this dangerous world, by confronting the temptations of forbidden love while not letting their guard down. And all this has to be done with the evil undead who want to make Lissa one of them forever.

Anything with a vampire sucks me in and i devour the books with this subject. It has a different take on vampire life by looking at half-breeds and the immortal vampires are the enemies in this world. I enjoyed the way this was written however i did find that i kept wanting a bit of the back story for the previous 2 years. It reads like a distant cousin of Vampire Diaries and i love that about it. It also has the injection of romance for the two leading characters, which helps build the story and lead into the rest of the books in series. I will definitely be adding the rest of the series to my TBR list.

Click on the following link to buy your copy of this book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0141328525/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=mystickt-21&camp=1634&creative=6738&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0141328525&linkId=de9db0d181b4b51bef583ebe67c74238

Review of I Was A Teenage Ghost Hunter by Brian K. Henry

I Was A Teenage Ghost Hunter by Brian K. Henry

Moody 16 year old barista Devin Mulwray is trying and failing to ignore all of the bizarre manifestations that are happening in her home town the chilling seaside town of Acarta. He is already being teased about his frequent zone outs and the last thing that this teenage needs if to be known as the guy who sees ghost around town. It doesn't help that his state of mind when his boss is a sarcastic slacker, his single dad is always working away from home and a local occult fan girl starts spreading the rumour that he is ghost boy on social media.

When some violent paranormal activity badly spooks the teens of the town involving an abandoned estate. Devin is then pushed into investigating by one of his eccentric friends Clive - a budding composer - and Rex the resident tech head who is excited by ghost hunting gadgets. Reluctantly he gets involved and Devin is further encourage when Emily one of the more empathetic girls at his school is impressed with his daring behaviour.

Together the friends set out to explore the creepy Rousten manor in the local town. Devin being the one and only person who can perceive the manifestations, he find himself going on a one against one battle with a powerful spirit who starts attacking the locals and infiltrates Devin's dreams .... or should we say nightmare. Devin has got to face his fear of confronting the spirit world and get to the bottom of the haunting before the evil spectre unleashed more havoc on his friend and family.

This is the second of Brian Henry's books that i have read and i enjoyed this as much as the first. His way of developing the characters is one of the best i have seen and it is this which draws me into the story. The style of writing helps to show the dynamics of the group of friends and how they interact with each other and solve the puzzles which they are face with. Devin the main character is on the cusp of coming of age and he finds that his focus is taken away from the important things and forced to focus on the supernatural world. If you like young adult and paranormal stories then this is the book for you.

Please click the following link to purchase you own copy of the book: 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=as_li_ss_tl?k=i+was+a+teenage+ghost+hunter&crid=NEHVLPTDDN5S&sprefix=i+was+a+teenage+gh,aps,170&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_18&linkCode=ll2&tag=mystickt-21&linkId=21fb541f892177aa1bd34bdcfdc3f40f&language=en_GB

Review of Five Feet Apart by Rachel Lippincott

Five Feet Apart by Rachel Lippincott

Can you love someone you can never touch?

Stella Grant like to be in control of her life and her Cystic Fibrosis.Even with her lungs not allowing her to control them, she has spent most of her life in and out of hospital. However at this point in her life what she needs to control the most is making sure that she keeps away from anyone and anything which could pass an infection to her immune system and this could jeopardise the chance of having a lung transplant.

Then Will Newman comes into the story and the only thing that he wants to control of is getting out of hospital - in effect the polar opposite to Stella. He couldn't care less about his medical needs including medication, treatments and the new drug trial that he is on. He is about to turn 18 and he will be able to control his own treatment and he can unplug the machines and see the world.

Will is exactly the person who Stella needs to stay away from. If he even accidentally breathes on her she could lose her place on the transplant list. This could also mean that both of them die and the only way that they can stay alive is to stay apart. However the six feet distance doesn't feel like they are being safe it makes them feel that they are being punished. If they could still keep a foot of space between them that their condition has stolen from them - would it really be that dangerous.

Well let me say first off all. This is not the book to read if you are even a bit emotional and get invested in the characters which you are reading about. Tear started flowing from page one for me and it only took me two sitting to read it. I felt sorry for the characters and i don't know how they could function - and then i realise that children and young adults are living with this daily. I loved hearing Stella and Will's point of views and loved the way this was written through both of the points of view. Even through the whole story is based in a Hospital Rachel manages to expand this situation to make you feel that you could be living in a community with the characters. I also wanted to wrap Stella up in my arms when she experiences the death of a fellow CF patient, Poe. This is a star crossed lovers story to match Romeo and Juliet - a must have read for young adult and romance novels.

Click the following link to buy your copy: 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1471182312/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=mystickt-21&camp=1634&creative=6738&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1471182312&linkId=86328ee8d47b6a373f57a30248b32e59

Review of If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo

If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo

This is the kind of big-hearted novel which will make you be seen and perceive for who you really are.

Amanda Hardy is the new girl at school and everyone knows how awkward that is. Like all the other students she wants to fit in and make friends, however Amanda is keeping secrets and is determined to not get close to anyone after what has happened at previous schools.

When she meets Grant, who is the sweetest and easygoing, She cant help but start to open herself up and let him into her life. As they spend more and more time together she finds that she starts to have feeling for him and that she is losing a battle to keep that invisible wall up. She finds her self feeling all these feelings that she should be and find herself yearning to share her secrets with Grant - all of her secrets Buts she is terrified that once she opens up to him and tells the full story, he will not be able to see past it.

The secret that she is keeping close to her chest is that at her previous school she was Andrew and moving schools has given her the chance to transition into being Amanda. Amanda is scared that telling the truth will cost her her new life and the new love in her life.

This story felt quite personal to me as one of my children is transgender and going through a lot of the feeling that Amanda is. I see a lot of myself in her parents and feel for them and you want to turn to them and offer a hand of support. I would recommend this book to anyone who is transitioning - and their families - it has been an emotional one for me and i am glad that i have read it. I didn't necessarily like the writing style but the story was not lost due to this, I felt that it was a bit jumpy and a bit hard to get into but i did enjoy reading it.

Click on the following link to buy your copy:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1474923836/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=mystickt-21&camp=1634&creative=6738&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1474923836&linkId=a95671fad47d926ca165d83ad3b78482