Book Review: Glimpse by Kendra Leighton

This is actually the second book inspired by Alfred Noyes’ The Highwayman and only read it with this book.

The highwayman came riding –
Riding – riding –
The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door

Liz just wants to be normal. Her life is anything but.

Seven years ago Liz lost her mother and ten years’ worth of memories. When she inherits the infamous Highwayman Inn, she hopes the move will be a fresh start. Then she meets Zachary. Zachary who haunts her by night and in dreams; who makes her question everything she is and wants to be; who seems scarcely real – yet makes her feel so alive.

 I like the plot of this book. It also takes the stance of that seeing ghost would actually be a pain in the arse. The way the ghost work is a interesting take with just a parts of them being visible and more of overwhelming feeling when they're present. I think that was probably my favourite part of the book.

The character were all quite distinct but the plot does relay too much on characters being basically insane. Liz's issues with her mother was good addition. The romance was alright, I'm never person to ask about this so it all I can think to say.

The plot is okay, there a few things that let it down. Liz is bit too clueless in the name of the plot and
 the ending is a bit dodgy in the moral sense. I can't say anything else about that without it being a major spoiler.

Overall, I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars for bowls of bones. The ghost are awesome but there was one rule I didn't get. Things were a bit slow and there was a few plotholes such as why did certain characters do the bidding of a certain character in the first place. It is worth a read if you're into ghost and sort of retelling of poems.

I got this off NetGalley for review. It published by Much-in-Little

Book Review: Adaptation by Malinda Lo

If you make out with an alien is that bestiality?

Flocks of birds are hurling themselves at aeroplanes across America. Thousands of people die. Millions are stranded. Everyone knows the world will never be the same. 

On Reese's long drive home, along a stretch of empty highway at night, a bird flies into their headlights. The car flips over. When they wake up in a military hospital, the doctor won't tell them what happened.

For Reese, though, this is just the start. She can't remember anything from the time between her accident and the day she woke up almost a month later. She only knows one thing: she's different now. Torn between longtime crush David and new girl Amber, the real question is: who can she trust?

I really like this book. Opens with birds falling from the sky which is a good visual and indicate what the rest of the novel will go. This is a book that involves aliens, secret government groups, conspiracy and of course dead birds.

The plot works and is layout perfectly. There are some fast pace moment as well the calm before the storm.

Reese is likable enough, there is love triangle sort of. Though, I liked it because the romances don't really overlap each other. Two corners of the triangle are girls which is nice to see in a book that's not just about romance.

Overall, I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars for mangled birds. This is the start of a series and I will definitely continued with this one and I'm going to check out the rest of Lo's works.

I got this book for review off Netgalley and is published by Hodder Children's Book. It's out now.

In the Twilight Zone

I have started watching The Twilight Zone; I have seen the odd episode before from it being randomly on TV and watched a few online due to cult following. You're be surprised how many Twilight Zones have been referenced and parodied since it aired. I'm only through the seconded half of the first season and there are two that I've seen directly parodied. Also it clearly influenced a lot of stuff and  I really wished we had a modern version of the Twilight Zone.

What else has been going on you might wonder? Well, if you follow me on Twitter religious -which I highly doubt anyone does- you would know that I'm going to the Edinburgh International Book Festival this year. The tickets are brought and the hotels are booked. YAY! To be honest it's not as good as last year which was Graphic Novel themed. This year it sort of Future of Scotland themed and there always other stuff going on. I'm going for three days, I was initially going for 4 but do cost and actually willingness to get up that day. I'm getting up there by bus so it is a bit of a trek.

I'm going on the 9th, 17th and 24th August and basically going to all the YA events on those days. Getting to see some of my favourite writers, a lot of which you can find on this blog. It's not as good as last year for me as last year was graphic novel themed and it had the likes of Grant Morrison there. If I could go the same way as I can this year, I wouldn't have the ability to go to all the events I wanted to anyway. I have dragged two people into coming with me. Frankly, I would have went alone if I had to.

My life is all excitement right now, I even burnt things today, those things were dead parts of trees. I for once did not film as I have enough footage of fire and trees which I have only briefly displayed in a video book review.

I also broke my Book Buying Ban, I finally stopped my denial about it. Especially since I blatantly broke it again today. I don't want to talk about.
 
 I'm going to go now, probably to read, stare out at the stars and wonder when the book Fever will strike again which is only a matter of time in the Twilight Zones.

Book Review: The girl with all the gifts by M.R. Carey

This shares similarities with The last of Us.

NOT EVERY GIFT IS A BLESSING

Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class.

When they come for her, Sergeant Parks keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don't like her. She jokes that she won't bite. But they don't laugh.

Melanie is a very special girl.


This is a zombie book, but has a unique spin. Mixing education with the living dead.

There are 5 characters that are the main focus. There are idiots in their own special ways. I suppose it would be a true zombie if someone didn't get themselves almost killed with their own stupidity. I didn't get attached to any of them, whixh is fine with this sort of book but I guess it does take away from the suspense when you don't care who lives and dies.

The science is of course questionable once you think about it, but then does have something that is known to take over other animals. The ending was okay. We left with questions about things that don't matter in the end.

 The book is written in third-person, switching focus between the characters. I like the writing style.

Overall, I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars for humping zombies.I enjoyed this book and would recommend if you like zombies book set well into the the Apocalypse.

 I got this off NetGalley for Review. It published by Orbit and is out now in paperback.

Lazy Accomplishments

Haló people, so another week has passed and I have accomplished very little. It's been a rather bad reading week. I have kept with the videos everyday. I've had a few ideas that I never ending up doing, such as doing a draw my life; I started writing it and it got really depressing. My cat died, school was depressing and the only happy thing was Florida so I kinda gave up on writing it. Maybe attempt it again some day but not this VEDJ. I have idea of doing stories with pictures drawn on on white board with me narrating the story. It's needs work so it won't work for tomorrow.

Tomorrow's video ended up me attempting to get drunk. I have over hour of footage that I need to go through and make into a decent length video. Well, that was what tomorrow's video was meant to be but I got sick of editing that video and I wanted to go to bed (and then I realise I hadn't finished writing this). I ended up putting a clip from the filming of that video up that didn't work for the video (mainly cause it got really long).

 Exciting news in terms of saving, I never spent any money last week. I mean I never left the house either and I steal the food my parents buy. I'm the healthy sort of person that can get away with eating one meal a day.

I'm the idiot that forgot to talk about Camp NaNoWriMo. I just remember about it as I was writing about not spending anything. That what Sunday's video should have been. I guess I could change it in a panic but l'm not sure I have a lot to say about it. I can just post something about it once I know that I've started it. I forgot I should probably go sign up for next month session especially since it starts in 2 days time. Hell, maybe this be the one I actually stick to and win that now that I'm one video away from completing VEDJ.

Though, July does have more pressing issues that I have left to sit at the back of my mind for most of the past 2 years. I have yet to edit anything that I could use as my Film portfolio. I have stuff filmed but it a lot of footage to go through. Doing this VEDJ has focused me to edit at least three 20 plus minutes videos that I've had to scan through a lot of footage to do so I done it for least.

Also I now have accessed to sound effects and music to soundtrack my videos thanks to YouTube. It's definitely new feature that I prove of, except for people are now randomly putting music in talking videos.

I have nothing to add for now so I'm leaving you for bed.

Book Review: Don't even Think about by Sarah Mlynowski

We write reviews as group now. Some of us liked this book.

Imagine if EVERYONE could hear your thoughts: your best friend, your worst enemy, your secret crush...

This is the story of how we became freaks. It's how a group of I's became a we.

When Class 10B got their flu shots, they expected some side effects. Maybe a sore arm. Maybe a headache. They definitely didn't expect to get telepathy. But suddenly they could hear what everyone was thinking. Their friends. Their teachers. Their parents. Now they all know that Tess has a crush on her best friend, Teddy. That Mackenzie cheated on Cooper. That Nurse Carmichael used to be a stripper. Some of them will thrive. Some of them will break. None of them will ever be the same.

This book is interesting as it technically wrote as first person but it come across as third person as it group people talking about themselves but there is certainly main character. I did take me a few chapters to get use to them talking as a "we".

There is probably like five main ones that we learn a lot about. We do hear about the others but not to the same extent. There are all quiet distinctive, a good effect has made to make them all them different. They have different family backgrounds dealing with cheating, OCD and other stuff. You like them on different levels but they all feel like real people.

The actual telepathy is interesting interpretation. I liked the rules of it, but did wonder why the connection with eyes. I also liked the fact that they developed aesthetic symptoms from the flu shots. It did dive into all the awkwardness that would come with classroom of teenagers being able to read minds.

Overall, I gave this book 4 of 5 stars for purple speckles. This is the start of a series and I would definitely continue with it. Best thing I've read with mind readers yet.

I got this book off Netgalley for review. Its published by Orchard Books and is out now.

Book Review: The Bookstore by Deborah Meyler

 If I worked at the Owl, I would go mad with the books being so disorganized.

Love doesn't always go by the book

Ardent and Idealistic, Esme Garland has arrived in Manhattan with a scholarship to study art history at Columbia University. When she falls in love with New York blue-blood Mitchell van Leuven, with his penchant for all things erotic, life seems to be clear sailing, until a thin blue line signals stormy times ahead. Before she has a chance to tell Mitchell about her pregnancy, he abruptly declares their sex life is as exciting as a cup of tea, and ends it all.
Stubbornly determined to master everything from Degas to diapers, Esme starts work at a small West Side bookstore to make ends meet. The Owl is a shabby all-day, all-night haven for a colorful crew of characters, such as handsome and taciturn guitar player Luke and George, the owner, who lives on spirulina shakes and idealism. The Owl becomes a nexus of good in a difficult world for Esme—but will it be enough to sustain her when Mitchell, glittering with charm and danger, comes back on the scene? 

 This was nice, quick read with annoying romance. This won't leaving you swooning. Maybe that it's charm. I did get so frustrated at Esme at lot, I just wanted her to stand up for herself at lot more. She blames her Britishness, I say it's her southern Englishness. The rest of Britain are not lay down and take it communities.

This book is weird because the Americanism is used for things when she talking to herself/reader. I mean colour is spelt without the 'u' and she fondly reminisces about Jell-o instead of Jelly.

 I spent most of time feeling sorry for Esme and not because she was pregnant. She has this attachment to Mitchell that I cannot understand at all. This might be a bit of a spoiler, but I think it comes petty clear in the first scenes with Mitchell is that he doesn't really care about Esme at all and it's just really sad that she can't see that. I would have liked to have seen why Emse "loves" him instead of being told he's charming. There is hint to another romance but it never developed which does work in with the book.

So this book is set in a Bookstore and New York which sets a lot of people drooling. They feature alright. There is a lot of book references in this book to enjoy. There is also sub-plot/issue of homelessness in the book as three homeless men work at the bookstore.

The dialogue in this book is quite good and there are a lot of funny lines just throw in during conversation with the other characters. The Owl is just full of characters (which is a sentences that works in so many ways. Three ways actually). 

Overall, I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars for L. Frank Baum gays. I don't feel that strong towards this book but it was enjoyable read. If you find the summary intriguing then you should definitely check it out.

I got this book for review off Netgalley. Its published by Bloomsbury Reader and is out now.

Sun Hiding

I have sun burnt shoulders. I'm of coursed displeased about this. I washed "my" car this week and was how my shoulders got burned. It also been too hot for my likely this week. I'd be quite happy without a supposed summer. Heat and sun do not spell fun even sun does rhyme with fun.

I've been spending most of my time trying to think of video ideas. Not always a successfully progess. I have 9 days left for VEDJ and I have two ideas left for it. One I don't want to for a while as it a haul and I've already uploaded three hauls this past week so I would like some time between those ones. I have idea but that involves me sitting down to write it. Two other videos are going to be Monday Missions so that leaves me with five video ideas to come up with. If all else fails I could do tags and there is potentially another video I could do. Hell, maybe I'll even do a draw my life.

Today is meant to be the longest day of the year but I'm sure the sun went down later yesterday than it did today. I know these things because I was on my trampoline at 11pm on both these days.

On the update of my bedroom, I now again have a chair to sit on rather a place where serveral things have been dumped on. Still haven't moved those boxes (I blame the heat and my fans lack of power). I found myself sorting my books, not sure why as I will need to sort them again once I get to the book rearranging part of my master plan. Basically, it just means I don't have bags of books/boxes everywhere. 

I've been getting excited about the Edinburgh Book festival as I'm definitely going to go this year. There is four days I want to check out; none of which take place one after another. I'm thinking of just getting the bus up and down for it. We're see.

I worked that I should be able to catch up on my reviews before college starts which would be great as it kinda ridiculous that I'm this behind and be great to have a decent stats on Netgalley. I've actually read next three books I need to review so hopefully there will be on time.

That's all for this week, I see ya all next time. I'm off to write reviews and sleep.