March 2015 on Lipsyy Lost & Found (plus April’s Hot Releases)

March was a good month. I finally got a start date for my new job, and handed in my notice at my current place. I’m not sure how much I’m allowed to talk about my new job due to the nature of it, but I will be a Library Assistant…in a prison. I’m really excited, and a tad anxious, but really looking forward to it.

I’m not sure how much this will impact my blog, as there is no internet in prison (obviously), and I’m not even allowed to have my phone with me, but I’ll do my best to catch up with things in the evenings. And, I get weekends back! Hurrah! I start mid-April. EEEEK!

Other good things in March were that my mum came to visit and we went to the West End to see The Commitments, a couple of birthdays were celebrated, and I had the best tapas at The Port House.

March 2015 Stats

Total Posts: 17
Books Read: 5

Reviews (5)

• The Frenchman by Lesley Young, 4/5 (View)
• The Ghosts of Heaven by Marcus Sedgwick, 3/5 (View)
• The Martian by Andy Weir, 4/5 (View)
• Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz, 5/5 (View)
• Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins, 4/5 (View)

The Breakdown

Most Surprising: The Frenchman
Most Disappointing: The Ghosts of Heaven
Most Exciting: Rebel Belle
Most Swoon-worthy: Aristotle & Dante…
Most Beautifully Written: Aristotle & Dante…

Genres: YA (2/5); Fantasy (2/5); Contemporary (1/5); Sci-Fi (1/5); Romance (2/5)

Formats/Sources: Advance Copy (1/5); Digital (2/5); Hardback (1/5); Paperback (2/5); Owned (4/5)

Friday Features:

• It’s All About the Trees (View Post)
• RIP Sir Terry Pratchett (View Post)

Guest Posts, Promos and Other Highlights:

• Frey’s Saga ~ L.K Hill (View Post)
• Vintage Bookshop Update (View Post)
• February Round-Up & March Releases ( View Post)

Most Viewed Posts:

1. This Week in Books 18.03.15 (View Post)
2. This Week in Books 11.03.15 (View Post)
3. Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Books From my Childhood I Want to Revisit (View Post)

Awards

April Releases

Here are the April releases I’m most excited about:

• Miss Mayhem ~ Rachel Hawkins – 7th
• Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda ~ Becky Albertalli – 7th
• In a World Just Right ~ Jen Brooks – 28th
• The Girl at Midnight ~ Melissa Grey – 28th

Available to buy or pre-order from Waterstones.

Paladins & Politeness: Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Rebel Belle
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Series: Rebel Belle #1
Edition: Paperback, 368 pages
Publication Details: March 3rd 2015 by Speak
Genre(s): YA; Fantasy
Disclosure? Nope, I bought it

Goodreads // Purchase

Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper’s destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.

Just when life can’t get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she’s charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper’s least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him—and discovers that David’s own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.

With snappy banter, cotillion dresses, non-stop action and a touch of magic, this new young adult series from bestseller Rachel Hawkins is going to make y’all beg for more.

Review

If you’re looking for a fun, quirky, fast-paced read then Rebel Belle should be right up your alley. It does exactly what it says on the cover – ‘high spirits and high-jinks’ it certainly was. I came away feeling elated.

Harper Price is a bit of a goody-goody. She’s that girl in school who’s involved in all the extra curricular events and a bit of a teacher’s pet, but she’s also extremely popular – and I liked that. I’m bored of the popular girls being the mean girls!

She can also be seen as your typical southern belle. She’s polite to the point of annoying, and holds old-school values like always respecting your elders (even when they’re trying to kill you) and not cursing (even in the face of death).

It all begins when Harper is attacked in the school toilets and ends up killing a homicidal teacher with her stiletto, discovering that she appears to have super-strength, ninja-like abilities. FUN!

I pretty much liked everything about this book. The action was good, I was invested in the characters, and it made me laugh. There were a few moments when I snorted at the ridiculousness of it, but that shouldn’t come as surprise with a book that was pitched as Legally Blonde meets The Terminator – seriously!

I can’t help likening this to Buffy as well, and not just because there are references to Harper trying to find ‘her Giles’; it has that perfect balance of wit, high-school drama, and mythology, not to mention an awesome, reluctant heroine.

Can’t wait for the next book!

Friday Feature: It’s all about the Trees…

I’m a fan of trees. Is that a weird thing to say? But you know, some trees are just really cool, like these ones…

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don’t know if it’s just because it’s finally Spring, but I swear I’ve been seeing trees all over book covers lately, so I thought I’d investigate and choose my favourites.

New/Recent Releases

(Click image to enlarge)

• The Glittering World ~ Robert Levy: Published February 10th 2015 by Gallery Books
• Empty Bodies ~ Zach Bohannon: February 3rd 2015 by Createspace
• The Bargaining ~ Carly Anne West: February 17th 2015 by Simon Pulse
• Go Set a Watchman ~ Harper Lee: Expected publication: July 14th 2015 by Harper
• Descent ~ Tim Johnston: Published January 6th 2015 by Algonquin Books

Best of the Rest

• Wuthering Heights ~ Charlotte Bronté
• Stardust ~ Neil Gaiman
• The Stolen Child ~ Keith Donohue

• The Magicians ~ Lev Grossman
• The Book of Lost Things ~ John Connolly

• Born at Midnight ~ C.C Hunter
• Dark Eden ~ Chris Beckett

I love the way different types of trees are used to convey completely different things. In this selection alone there’s mystery, magic, beauty, and they’re all pretty ominous.

What’s your favourite tree cover?

Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Title: Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
Author: Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Series: N/A
Edition: Paperback, 359 pages
Publication Details: April 1st 2014 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Genre(s): YA; Contemporary; LGBT
Disclosure? Nope, I bought it

Goodreads // Purchase

Dante can swim. Ari can’t. Dante is articulate and self-assured. Ari has a hard time with words and suffers from self-doubt. Dante gets lost in poetry and art. Ari gets lost in thoughts of his older brother who is in prison. Dante is fair skinned. Ari’s features are much darker. It seems that a boy like Dante, with his open and unique perspective on life, would be the last person to break down the walls that Ari has built around himself.

But against all odds, when Ari and Dante meet, they develop a special bond that will teach them the most important truths of their lives, and help define the people they want to be. But there are big hurdles in their way, and only by believing in each other―and the power of their friendship―can Ari and Dante emerge stronger on the other side.

Review

So you know the other week when I said I’m over Contemporary YA and have had enough of traumatic school-days reads? I take it all back. This book made me take it all back and eat my words. The shame!

Oh this book, you guys.

I fell in love with it instantly and read it in two sittings. The story is set in El Paso, Texas, and narrated by Ari. Ari’s a loner and more troubled than he even lets himself acknowledge. He’s clever and funny, but he’s angry too. He’s angry that his dad won’t talk about the war that has affected him so badly. He’s a angry that his brother is in prison and that his family won’t tell him why. In fact they pretend he doesn’t exist at all.

Ari meets Dante, who offers to teach him how to swim. On paper they are complete opposites. Dante is effervescent and loved by everyone who meets him. He finds it easy to open up to people and talk about his feelings; everything Ari isn’t, and can’t do.

The two become inseparable during one summer, and together they try to make sense of the world.

I’m reluctant to say much more plot-wise but just know this: Aristotle and Dante is a beautifully written, heart-wrenching coming-of-age story that I know will stay with me for a long time. I’ll definitely be reading this again in the future.

I love the setting, I loved the relationship between Ari and his mum, and obviously the relationship between Ari and Dante…I just can’t even… have ALL THE UNICORNS. I need to get my hands on Alire Sáenz’s other books STAT!

Book Promo: Frey’s Saga ~ L.K Hill

Welcome to another book promo/spotlight on Lipsyy Lost & Found.

This one got my attention because, er NORWAY, VIKINGS, and PAGANS, plus all that snow! I’m still wishing for snow, clearly it’s not gonna happen as it’s basically Spring already, so I guess I’ll settle for this instead…

About the book

Title: Frey’s Saga

Author: L.K Hill

Series: N/A

Editions: hardback, Paperback, e-book 204 pages

Publication Details: August 15th 2012 by Xlibris Corporation

Goodreads

Amazon

L.K. Hill weaves an adventurous tale of a young orphaned monk’s life in Norway following his capture by Norse seafarers. During his captivity by the Vikings in the small coastal village, Frey struggles to survive within a world of raiders, berserkers, thralls, wolves, death, murder, battles, gossip and treachery, all while finding courage, love and family.”

A young boy named Frey survives the slaughter of his parent’s village by unknown raiders, as he and his two sisters run for the nearby woods, while his parents and the villagers sacrifically give their lives to allow the children to escape. In fear, Frey runs endlessly for many days until he stumbles upon a monestary and is taken by a band of Vikings and introduced to the horrors of being a Christian in a Pagan World. He finds his own virtues as a slave, and the salvation of his father’s past teachings. In time, he finds respect, and is given his freedom from those who enslaved him, and eventually finds love in the arms of the Chieftain’s daughter.

Meet the Author

L.K. Hill is a certified nurse’s aide and graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature. She has written numerous short stories, and has strong interests in Paganism and Viking culture. She is married with two sons, and is a lifelong Connecticut resident.

Say What?

Here is a gentle fantasy (well, there is a berserker, some hungry and battle-glad wolves, a despicable lout of a “bad guy”, raiding, murder, and spies) which I could not put down.”

– Jane (Amazon)

This Week In Books 25.03.2015

Welcome to my new Wednesday post, where I sum-up what I’ve been up to in bookland the past week.

Now: What She Left ~ T.R Richmond.

I’ve only just opened this, so nothing to report yet but looking forward to it.

Then: Rebel Belle ~ Rachel Hawkins

I really enjoyed this quick, quirky read. My review will be up next week.

Next: ???

Maybe Heir of Fire or Hold me Closer. Or Blood Red, Snow White. Ahh so many!

New on the Wishlist

I’m still working my way through Mead’s Vampire Academy series, but when I saw this on the excellent Obsessive Bookseller’s blog I had to add it to my wishlist.

For as long as Fei can remember, there has been no sound in her village, where rocky terrain and frequent avalanches prevent residents from self-sustaining. Fei and her people are at the mercy of a zipline that carries food up the treacherous cliffs from Beiguo, a mysterious faraway kingdom.

When villagers begin to lose their sight, deliveries from the zipline shrink and many go hungry. Fei’s home, the people she loves, and her entire existence is plunged into crisis, under threat of darkness and starvation.

But soon Fei is awoken in the night by a searing noise, and sound becomes her weapon.

New on the Shelf

(Linking up with Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga’s Reviews)

Purchased: So my book-buying ban took a hit last week when I randomly found a The Works shop on my travels. They had some books for £1 and also a 3 for £5 offer. It was rude not to, right!?

Here’s my haul:

Netgalley: I didn’t request any advanced copies this week (pat on the back)!

Borrowed: I didn’t borrow any books this week either.

I’m Waiting on…

(Linking up with Breaking the Spine)

Miss Mayhem (Rebel Belle #2) ~ Rachel Hawkins
I’m really waiting on this one after just finishing the first book. It was a blast!

Life is almost back to normal for Harper Price. The Ephors have been silent after their deadly attack at Cotillion months ago, and best friend Bee has returned after a mysterious disappearance. Now Harper can return her focus to the important things in life: school, canoodling with David, her nemesis-turned-ward-slash-boyfie, and even competing in the Miss Pine Grove pageant.

Unfortunately, supernatural chores are never done. The Ephors have decided they’d rather train David than kill him. The catch: Harper has to come along for the ride, but she can’t stay David’s Paladin unless she undergoes an ancient trial that will either kill her . . . or connect her to David for life. Expected publication: April 7th 2015

So, that’s my week in books, now how about yours?

If you still do a similar WWW post (or just want to join in, leave your link/answers in the comments, OR why not tweet using #ThisWeekInBooks, and I’ll come and visit!

Top 10 Books From My Childhood That I Would Love To Revisit

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish (click the link to visit them) who pick a different topic each week.

The topic for this week is: Top 10 books from my childhood (Or teen years) that I would love to revisit

A lot of the books I read as a child and going into my teens have stayed with me, and I revisit them often, so I found this week’s topic quite tough, but here goes…

1.  Naughty Amelia Jane ~ Enid Blyton : I’ve been looking for a nice copy of this series for ages, I remember loving it as a child and I’ve not read it since.

 

2. I Don’t Want To!~ Bel Mooney: This is another one that I remember vaguely from my childhood but haven’t been able to find a copy since.

 

3.  Green Eggs and Ham ~ Dr. Seuss: I’d like to read this again, I don’t know why I don’t own it.

 

4.   The Magic Faraway Tree ~ Enid Blyton: I have a couple of books in this series but haven’t read them for years. Need to get on that!

 

5.  Unknown unicorn book: When I was at junior school I always wanted books from the book people that came round every now and then, but usually I wasn’t allowed. However, on one occasion my mum gave in because I fell in love a beautiful picture book about a unicorn who gets lost in a forest. I remember the cover of that book to this day but I’ve never been able to find it as I can’t remember the title or author. It makes me sad every time I think about it. Any ideas? It must have been around 1990

 


 

6. The Chronicles of Narnia ~ C.S Lewis: So I read Narnia a lot, but I have a confession, I’ve never read the last book in the series, ever! I really should, but I’m scared that it’ll break me. I’ve also only read The Silver Chair once so I need to revisit that one too.

 

7. Point Horror ~ Various: These books were such a staple of my reading growing up. They are what made reading cool for me. Over the past couple of years I’ve been building up my collection again but I haven’t read most of them since I was about 12.

 

8. Knightmare: The Dragon’s Lair ~ Dave Morris: I wish I still had a copy of this. I loved those choose-your-own-adventure books. I’d like to revisit this one to see if it was as fun as I remember.

 

9. Robinson Crusoe ~ Daniel Defoe: This was one of the few books I was made to read at school that I actually enjoyed. I re-read it again at uni about ten years ago but after recently reading The Martian, I’d like to give it another whirl.

 

10. Secret Vampire ~ L.J Smith: I remember getting this free with a magazine when I was a young teen. It’s probably what set of my vampire obsession! I think I still have it somewhere, I must find it!

Lazy Saturday Review: The Martian by Andy Weir

Title: The Martian
Author: Andy Weir
Series: N/A
Edition: Kindle Edition, 385 pages
Publication Details: February 11th 2014 by Crown
Genre(s): Sci-Fi
Disclosure? Nope, I bought it

Goodreads // Purchase

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first men to walk on the surface of Mars. Now, he’s sure he’ll be the first man to die there.

It started with the dust storm that holed his suit and nearly killed him, and that forced his crew to leave him behind, sure he was already dead. Now he’s stranded millions of miles from the nearest human being, with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive–and even if he could get word out, his food would be gone years before a rescue mission could arrive. Chances are, though, he won’t have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old “human error” are much more likely to get him first.

But Mark isn’t ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills–and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit–he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. But will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?

Review

The Martian is like the most intense science lesson you never had.

Mark Watney is stranded on Mars, presumed dead. As the first line perfectly describes he’s ‘pretty much fucked’. But Mark Watney is also the most ridiculously resourceful astronaut there ever was, and he’s not about to give up.

He spends his days planning and problem solving in order to figure out how to keep himself alive until he can be rescued, whilst reluctantly listening to disco music and watching old 70’s sitcoms left behind by his crew-mates.

The story is told in the form of daily logs from Watney, in his smart-ass, witty voice, and also from the perspective of the NASA team who are trying to save him now that they’re aware he’s alive.

I was totally engrossed in this story, and rooting for Watney the whole way through. The book mixes hard science (something I know very little about) with fantastically real science-fiction which makes for an intense read. At times I did get a bit bored of all the minuscule details of Watney’s potato farm and water reclaimer, but all the little details added to the real-ness of the story.

I was surprised by how funny this book was too, which was all down to the characterisation of Watney. He was hilarious, and NASA’s reactions to him just made me laugh even more. If anyone could survive alone in space, it would be someone like Mark Watney.

I thought this was a really clever book. It had its ups and downs, but overall I found it interesting, exciting and hard to put down.

This Week in Books 18.03.2015

Welcome to my new Wednesday post, where I sum-up what I’ve been up to in bookland the past week.

Now: Rebel Belle ~ Rachel Hawkins

I’m really enjoying this, just struggling to find time to read atm.

Then: Aristotle and Date Discover the Secrets of the Universe ~ Ben Alire Sáenz

LOVED! My review will be up next week. I also finished The Martian by Andy Weir, which I’ll review on Saturday.

Next: ???

Probably What She Left by T.R Richmond. It’s a Netgalley approval and not released until April, but I fancy a dark adult book next.

New on the Shelf

(Linking up with Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga’s Reviews)

Purchased: Hold Me Closer arrived! Yay!

Netgalley: I was approved for The Silvered Heart by Catherine Clements, I love the cover so much! Released May 7th.

The legendary figure of Kate Ferrars, the infamous highwaywoman, is brought gloriously to life in this gripping tale of infatuation, betrayal and survival.

‘The distant thrum of galloping hooves conjures nothing but doubt and fear these days.’

1648: Civil war is devastating England. The privileged world Katherine Ferrars knows is crumbling under Cromwell’s army, and as an orphaned heiress, she has no choice but to do her duty and marry for the sake of family.

But as her marriage turns into a prison, and her fortune is decimated by the war, Kate becomes increasingly desperate. So when she meets the enigmatic Ralph Chaplin, she seizes the chance he offers. Their plan is daring and brutal, but it’s an escape from poverty and the shackles of convention. They both know if they’re caught, there’s only one way it can end…

Borrowed: I didn’t borrow any books this week.

I’m Waiting on…

(Linking up with Breaking the Spine)

Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) ~ Marissa Meyer
I know, I know, it’s so far away, but the cover was recently revealed and argggggggghhh WANT! Also 800 pages!!!!???

Here is the stunning conclusion to the national bestselling Lunar Chronicles, inspired by Snow White.

When Princess Winter was thirteen, the rumor around the Lunar court was that her glamour would soon be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana. In a fit of jealousy, Levana disfigured Winter. Four years later, Winter has sworn off the use of her glamour altogether. Despite her scars, Winter’s natural beauty, her grace, and her gentleness are winning admiration from the Lunar people that no amount of mind-control could achieve.

Winter despises her stepmother, but has never dreamed of standing up to her. That is, until she realizes that she may be the only one with the power to confront the queen.

Can Cinder, Prince Kai, Scarlet, Wolf, Cress, Thorne, Princess Winter, and the palace guard Jacin find their happily ever afters? Fans will LOVE this amazing conclusion to the series.
Expected publication: November 10th 2015

So, that’s my week in books, now how about yours?

If you still do a similar WWW post (or just want to join in, leave your link/answers in the comments, OR why not tweet using #ThisWeekInBooks, and I’ll come and visit!

Top Ten Tuesday: My Spring To-Be-Read list

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish (click the link to visit them) who pick a different topic each week.

The topic for this week is: Top Ten Books on my Spring TBR list.

Yes, I know it’s Wednesday, but I ran out of time. You know how it is. I really wanted to do this list though, so let’s just pretend it’s still Tuesday for a minute, yeah?

Not all of these are released this Spring, but they are the ones I have lined up that I’m most excited about. Click on the links to go to the Goodreads pages, and no date = already released 🙂

1.  The Heir ~ Kiera Cass: (May 5th – HarperTeen) OBVS.
2.  Fairest ~ Marissa Meyer: Apparently this is already released, but I had it on pre-order and it still hasn’t arrived…grr hurry up!
3.  Heir of Fire ~ Sarah J. Maas: Why haven’t I started this yet? It’s been sitting on my shelf for ages.
4.  Miss Mayhem ~ Rachel Hawkins (April 7th 2015 – Putnam Juvenile): I’m loving Rebel Belle at the moment so will deffo carry on the series.
5.  Simon Vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda ~ Becky Abertalli ( April 7th 2015 – Balzer + Bray): This is on the top of my Spring wishlist.



 

6. What She Left ~ T.R. Richmond (April 23rd 2015 – Michael Joseph): I have a NetGalley approval for this, sounds dark!
7. Golden Boy ~ Abigail Tarttelin: I bought a second-hand copy of this not so long ago. I think it might break me though.
8. Blood Red, Snow White ~ Marcus Sedgwick: This is one of Sedgwick’s older books that slipped through the net for me, I borrowed it off a friend.
9. The Silvered Heart ~ Catherine Clements (7th May – Headline): Another NetGallley title I have lined up. LOVE the cover.
10. Hold Me Closer – David Levithan: This just arrived in the post. YAY! 🙂