books, Contemporary, LGBTQIA, Young Adult/ Teen

Book Review: The Raven King (All For The Game #2) by Nora Sakavic

by ZaheerahLeave a Comment on Book Review: The Raven King (All For The Game #2) by Nora Sakavic

18187013you can find the book at:
GoodReads
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Author website

my review:
Rating: ★★★★☆

As I mentioned in a previous review, I wasn’t a huge fan of the first book and I was seriously considering not continuing the series. But I’m so glad I continued because Nora Sakavic doesn’t disappoint in this sequel. The Raven King picks up straight after the events of book 1, continuing the story of Neil and the Foxes as move forward with the game season, counting down the days until they have to face the Ravens. Alongside this, Neil struggles with hiding his past and keeping it together in the presence of Riko’s menace.

The way Sakavic writes is really simple, not too OTT, considering the events of the novel which is what made it really nice to read. It’s fast-paced but not in a way that leaves you confused as she reveals more about the characters and their determination in the rough world of Exy. The characters are developing, as are their relationships, and it’s fascinating but you do find yourself having to stop and think about who is who with some of the other team members, but I was so focused on Neil and Andrew that didn’t bother me as much as it did in the first book.

Also, Neil’s one of those characters that you just want to pick up from their novel and place them somewhere safe. BECAUSE SO MUCH BAD STUFF HAPPENS AND HE JUST DOESN’T DESERVE ANY OF IT.

And I forgot to mention that the first book in the series is free and the rest are 99p.So cheap for a series that’s so good.

Kindle Edition, 181 pages
Published July 10th 2013 by Smashwords Edition
ISBN: 139781301824298
books, top ten tuesday

10 songs I wish that were books

by ZaheerahLeave a Comment on 10 songs I wish that were books

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish! Each week, a new topic is put into place and bloggers share their top ten accordingly.

  • Walt Grace’s Submarine Test, January 1967 by John Mayer


I remember during GCSE Media Studies, our task was to draw a storyboard for any song and I chose this one because it had such an interesting story that I would’ve loved to watch or read.

  •  Youth by Troye Sivan
  • Radioactive by Imagine Dragons
  • Outer Space/ Carry On – 5  Seconds of Summer

Can’t find a link! 😦

  • The Judge – twenty one pilots
  • If I Could Fly -One Direction
  • Corpse Roads -Keaton Henson
  • Castle – Halsey

Just One Yesterday -Fall Out Boy


The Mother We Share – CHVRCHES

book tags, books

The Deserted Island – Book Tag

by ZaheerahLeave a Comment on The Deserted Island – Book Tag
The Deserted Island – Book Tag

Thanks to Joey @ Thoughts and Afterthoughts for tagging me! (omg how do you manage to do so many so quickly?? lmao i still have five left to do )

Water — A book you simply cannot live without

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Quite a recent read but I love it! (Especially Khalila Seif)

Food— A book that is a close second on your favourites list

 10805588

Shelter — A book that makes you feel at home and safe

 

Flare Gun — A book you would recommend to someone who doesn’t read

Most people I know do read quite frequently but its usually harry potter to someone who doesn’t read. A friend of mine had never read them a few years ago until we badgered her to and now she loves it!

Matchsticks — A book that warms your heart

 Everything, Everything

Maddy and Olly’s relationship is so damn cute.

Compass — A book that directed you towards your love of reading

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Most likely The Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine or the Darren Shan saga. They were one of the first books I encountered outside of Harry Potter and primary school reading groups. I remember reading Twilight the same time as Glass Houses, and I just sort of hovered towards MV more because I didn’t like Twilight.

 

And I tag: (Apologises if you’ve already completed the tag from another person, I usually choose people whose post I’ve read recently)

books, LGBTQIA, Young Adult/ Teen

Book Review: The Foxhole Court (All for the Game #1) by Nora Sakavic

by ZaheerahLeave a Comment on Book Review: The Foxhole Court (All for the Game #1) by Nora Sakavic

18874651you can find the book at:
GoodReads
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Author website

my review:
Rating: ★★★☆☆

Having just finished this, I must say that I’m not exactly sure what to say about this book. I didn’t like certain aspects of the novel, but overall plotline interested me enough to actually want to continue the series.

The Foxhole Court focuses on a fictional sport called Exy, which seems like a mix of lacrosse, hockey, and some other sports I can’t quite remember. It’s extremely popular and the only thing that makes Neil happy. But Neil is on the run from his father, an abusive man in the mob, and signing a contract with the PSU Foxes should be the last thing Neil should ever do. The lie that has kept him living for five years begins to break under the pressure of his new teammates and the truth about him could get him killed.

To be honest, it’s hard to explain this whole book because so much happens and would spoil the book immensely. I enjoyed the plot, but I had bigger problems with issues like rape jokes and homophobic slurs within the book that made it uncomfortable to read. I originally gave this book 1 star but it was like 12 at night when I finished it so I slept on it and decided a 3 rating was more suitable. The concept of Exy was interesting to read and despite the weirdness of the plot, I liked how realistic the characters were. (I have the biggest soft spot for Nicky and Kevin) Each character has a fascinating backstory which captivates the reader and makes you love the minor characters even more.

Kindle Edition, 230 pages
Published July 30th 2013 by Smashwords Edition/ Self-published
ASIN: B00E9BLRUI

 

books, top ten tuesday

5 OTPs & 5 NOTPs

by Zaheerah4 Comments on 5 OTPs & 5 NOTPs

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish! Each week, a new topic is put into place and bloggers share their top ten accordingly. I should note that since I rushed this weeks post, this is a list of otps/notps that I could think of at time of writing, not a list of my top 5.

OTPs

Ari & Dante | Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe

Darren Shan & Debbie Hemlock | The Saga of Darren Shan

(AKA one of my first ever OTPs but ngl I’m still mad they replaced her with a white girl in the movie. I only shipped them when they were both the same age, it was a bit weird when she was 25 but Darren hadn’t grown up yet – in a physical sense – but the scene where they meet again is so funny)

Patrochilles – Patroclus & Achilles | The Song of Achilles

image
Artist Credit

I’m really glad that in my classics class this year, more of my friends are in it so our conversations somehow turn towards these two almost every lesson. And we’re not even doing The Iliad this year. Honestly, I loved these two soo much in TSOA.

Penryn & Raffe | Angellfall
I can’t find a picture I like of them but these two were really cute and badass together in book one, the others not so much…

Cinder & Kai | Cinder

File:Kai and cinder by taratjah-d8h1rbp.jpg
Okay I wasn’t the worlds biggest fan for them, but they were pretty damn cute in some scenes of the book. And I’m still not over that scene where that robot announced her in front of the entire ball and she was literally covered head to toe in dirt.

NOTPs

Clace – Clary Fray & Jace whatever your last name really was | The Mortal Instruments

Reylo – Rey & Kylo Ren | Star Wars

Okay this isn’t book related but no, just no.

Do they even have a ship name? – Anastasia Steele & Christian Grey | Fifty Shades of Grey

Hessa – Harry and Tessa | After

If you’re wondering why Harry Styles is there, it’s because After was a Wattpad 1D fanfic until it was published. I still can’t believe I wasted a good week and a half of my summer two years ago reading this series on Wattpad because the number of reads it had shocked me and someone online convinced me it got better by book 3. (it didn’t)

Cassie Sullivan & Evan Walker | The Fifth Wave


Tbh I don’t hate these two, I just didn’t understand them and they moved waay too fast and developed really weirdly for me to like them. I haven’t finished the series yet so I don’t even know if Evan returns after the first book and the creation of a love triangle by throwing Ben in at the last few pages really confused me.

books, Contemporary, Young Adult/ Teen

Book Review: Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom

by ZaheerahLeave a Comment on Book Review: Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom

28453981you can find the book at:
GoodReads
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Author website

my review:

Rating: ★★★☆☆

~ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review~

Parker Grant lives by her own set of die-hard rules which she developed over the years, after losing her mother and sight at age 7, and refuses to let anyone treat her differently because of that. But when Scott, otherwise known as Parker Enemy Number One for breaking the most important rule, reappears into her life, Parker is forced to wonder if she was too quick to judge Scott while attempting to handle her new way of life after the death of her father three months prior.

I’m not going to lie, I was going into this book expecting it to be bad but, honestly, I thought it was pretty good.

Continue reading “Book Review: Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom” →