Review: Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein

 Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein

Author: Elizabeth Wein Website|Twitter
Published: 3 June 2013
Format: Paperback
Pages: 469
Buy the paperback: Amazon|Hive|BookDepository
Buy the e-book: Kindle|Kobo

Source: Borrowed from library

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Rose Justice is a young American ATA pilot, delivering planes and taxiing pilots for the RAF in the UK during the summer of 1944. A budding poet who feels most alive while flying, she discovers that not all battles are fought in the air. An unforgettable journey from innocence to experience from the author of the best-selling, multi-award-nominated Code Name Verity. From the exhilaration of being the youngest pilot in the British air transport auxiliary, to the aftermath of surviving the notorious Ravensbruck women's concentration camp, Rose's story is one of courage in the face of adversity.

My Review:
I'd placed a hold on this book before I'd even finished Wein's previous novel, Code Name Verity, because I knew I would need to read this one as soon as possible afterwards. Rose Under Fire documents Rose Justice's journey from pilot to prisoner through her diary.

First of all, I think this is billed as more of a companion novel to Code Name Verity than a sequel, and you could certainly read it on its own without having read CNV. Saying that, characters that appear in the previous book to crop up in this one, and if you were to go back and read Code Name Verity afterwards then you may find some of the references in Rose Under Fire spoil that story. I'd definitely recommend reading Code Name Verity first so you get to enjoy the mention of the characters that appear in both novels. Plus Code Name Verity is a must read anyway.

Rose Under Fire introduces us to main character Rose Justice who is an air transport auxiliary pilot in the second world war. I absolutely fell in love with her from the very beginning of the book. Most of the story is told through her diaries so you get to hear her voice as you read. But what was most wonderful about Rose was that she loves poetry. Incorporated into the story are poems, both those she has written herself and ones she has picked up along the way. These really gave you an insight into her life and demonstrated her flare for writing. I loved her positive, forgiving attitude throughout the story as well.

Through Rose's poems and writings you get this real appreciation of the art of writing and how much of a priveledge it is. Rose is often denied access to pens and paper in her time in captivity so you really feel how passionate she is when she's finally able to express herself on paper. I think it's a sentiment that any reader or writer will appreciate. I adored the fact Rose is documenting her story in this one particular notebook which she treasures so much. It made the whole thing feel so special.

Obviously with a book set during the war, you are going to come across some pretty tough times for the characters. After having my heart shattered when I read Code Name Verity, I was pretty fearful for what would happen in Rose Under Fire, and how that would affect my emotions! It was about a hundred pages into this book when something that happened that shook me up and set up the rest of the story. Rose finds herself in a very bleak situation, and throughout Rose Under Fire you get to see the harsh conditions of concentration camps through Rose's eyes.

Whilst the camp scenes were incredibly hard to read, they also provided the sense of camaraderie which became one of my favourite things about the story. We see Rose bond with the girls in her bunk. It's not all smooth sailing and it was interesting to see the clashes in nationalities and backgrounds, but ultimately these girls pull together. The friendship between Rose and Eloide, and Rose and Roza were two of the highlights of the story for me. These people are forced together by circumstance yet they find ways to connect with everyone and help each other through. The friendships definitely provided some uplifting moments. Like Code Name Verity, I loved that book focussed on the stories of women, especially in a role such as a pilot. Rose was a real inspriation.

So this book completely shattered my heart in the same way Code Name Verity did, but I wouldn't change a thing. I was moved, inspired and uplifted by the wonderful characters and vivid storytelling. I was completely lost in Rose's story and what happened to her as well as the stories of those around her. Of course what is even more powerful about what happened is that it is based on real events. The names of real prisoners at the Ravensbruck camp are listed at the front of the novel and it's a stark reminder of what really happened to these people during the war. If you are reading this review and thinking to yourself "oh I don't really like historical" then I urge you to give it a try, because Rose Under Fire provides so much more than just a history lesson. There are fantastic characters and friendships that anybody will be able to appreciate.

Rating: 5*
Books like this: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne

Review: The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner

 The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner

Author: Sally Gardner Website|Twitter

Published: 4 October 2007 (Orion)
Format: Hardback
Pages: 371
Buy the paperback: Amazon|BookDepository
Buy the e-book: Kindle|Kobo

Source: Borrowed from library

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
The story of a remarkable boy called Yann Margoza; Tetu the dwarf, his friend and mentor; Sido, unloved daughter of a foolish Marquis; and Count Kalliovski, Grand Master of a secret society, who has half the aristocracy in thrall to him, and wants Yann dead. Yann is spirited away to London but three years later, when Paris is gripped by the bloody horrors of the Revolution, he returns, charged with two missions: to find out Kalliovski's darkest deeds and to save Sido from the guillotine. With a tangle of secrets, a thread of magic and a touch of humour, the follies of the aristocracy and the sufferings of ordinary people are unfolded as their lives move relentlessly towards the tragic and horrific days of the Terror.

My Review:
I thoroughly enjoyed Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner, and when I spotted this book on the library shelf I grabbed it on the name alone. The Red Necklace follows several characters during the French Revolution. Yann and Sido come from opposite ends of the social spectrum yet find their lives woven together as the uprising begins.

If this book hadn't been written by Gardner, I'll admit it would probably never even have popped up on my radar. Historical fiction isn't usually my thing, and my knowledge of the French Revolution is entirely based on the film adaptation of Les Miserables. Having finished the book I am delighted I took the plunge and took myself out of that comfort zone, because The Red Necklace was a fantastic read and an extremely pleasant surprise.

The book follows Yann, a performer who has the ability to read minds and control automatons. When he performs at a party for the Marquis, he finds himself wrapped up in a suspicious death, one of many to come. Whilst the book is historical and set in a very interesting period of history, it also has touches of mystery and fantasy about it which really drew me in. The Red Necklace itself is something that appears on the bodies of those who have been killed - sort of a trademark of the killer. I loved this mix of themes and ideas running through the book, but it was the mystery that really kept me invested in the story and characters.

Yann and Sido were my favourite characters. I really felt for Sido who is neglected by her father. She spends most of her time away at a convent and when she returns is abused and mocked because of her limp. Her father being wealthy also lands her on the side of the rich during the revolution, something she gets no say in. Some of the things she goes through during the story because of her background were so horrifying. I loved the relationship between the two of them and how they look out for each other and help the other one despite their differences.

The historical element of the story was what made me nervous before reading it, but it made for a brilliant backdrop to Yann's story. That sense of something building and the unease between the characters was really well done. I could feel it all bubbling under and was just waiting for things to really come to a head. It's a period of history I found completely fascinating and would definitely go and read more about in the future.

There were some real twists and turns throughout the book, and I loved the mystery element and the villainous characters. I loved that the plot was really strong and that it was interwoven with the historical timeline.

Overall I enjoyed this book and it was a nice quick read. I really came to feel for the characters and the ending made me want to carry on reading and fall back into that world.

Rating: 4*
What to read next: The Silver Blade by Sally Gardner, the sequel to The Red Necklace
Books like this: Fire Spell by Laura Amy Schlitz

Review: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein 

Author: Elizabeth Wein Website|Twitter
Published: 6 February 2012 (Electric Monkey)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 447
Buy the paperback: Amazon|BookDepository
Buy the e-book: Kindle|Kobo

Source: Bought

Plot Summary (from Amazon):
Two young women become unlikely best friends during WWII, until one is captured by the Gestapo. Only in wartime could a stalwart lass from Manchester rub shoulders with a Scottish aristocrat, one a pilot, the other a special operations executive. Yet whenever their paths cross, they complement each other perfectly and before long become devoted to each other. But then a vital mission goes wrong, and one of the friends has to bail out of a faulty plane over France. She is captured by the Gestapo and becomes a prisoner of war. The story begins in “Verity’s” own words, as she writes her account for her captors. Truth or lies? Honour or betrayal? Everything they’ve ever believed in is put to the test… 

My Review:
This book has been on my to-read list for so long. I've heard so many incredible things about it, so when it was announced the author would be at Leakycon London, I knew I had to give in and read it. Code Name Verity tells the story of two friends during the second world war. One is held captive by the Gestapo, and must write a diary detailing her mission.

I'm writing this the morning after finishing the book, and my heart is still a little bit fragile. This is truly one of the most phenomenal books I have read. I'll start by saying that usually I'm not a big fan of historical novels, which is possibly why I've been putting this book off, but I've read a few books set during WWII and really enjoyed them so I had hope for Code Name Verity. Whilst reading it, I didn't really think about the fact it was historical. I was so caught up the two girls' story and the atmosphere of the war that it felt as if I was right there living it with them, which I think is one of the best compliments I can give a novel.

The plot revolves around what happens to the two girls when they become separated after a plane crash. All the time there are hints at what's to come and I was constantly on the edge of my seat waiting to find out the fate of each character. It's hard to write this review without giving too much away! The narrator for the first half of the book keeps her true identity secret for a while (although it's easy to figure out just who she is in the story). Throughout the book the characters are known by several names (code names and such, as the title would suggest!).

That first half is told through diary entries as one of the girls is holed up after being captured by the Gestapo. What she goes through is brutal and horrible, but even though there's this suffering going on, she manages to keep this fantastic humour as she tells her story. Her voice throughout the diary entries is incredibly strong and she's definitely somebody I wouldn't want to mess with! It was just amazing how I could go to being shocked, to scared, to saddened and then be laughing at the same time. She makes jokes and witty observations about her captors and really speaks her mind. I adored the storytelling in the entries and how wonderfully the tale was told.

Code Name Verity contains some incredible female characters. From the two main characters whose tale is being told - Queenie and Maddie - to the people they are surrounded by who have an influence on them. Maddie is a pilot, and an extremely capable one. Throughout the book we see how she's surprised and impressed people with her skill and determination. Queenie on the other hand is a talented linguist, with the ability to speak English, French and German, something vital to the war effort. I loved seeing the other female characters' roles play out as well, such as the pilot Maddie takes inspiration from - Dympna - and Engel, the female captor we see present throughout the capture scenes.

The book may be set during the war but ultimately it's a tale of friendship. The relationship between the girls is so strong, and defies so many boundaries. The girls come from different social backgrounds and have different skills and personalities, yet they fit together like two pieces of a puzzle. Some of my favourite scenes were the ones in which they share their fears with each other. It was so personal and touching to see that close relationship and trust between them. The two of them are facing some pretty horrible circumstances and have to be brave and focused, so it was really moving to see that vulnerable side of them both that they felt comfortable enough to share with each other.

I found the WWII stuff itself to be completely fascinating. The book features life inside the Women's Auxiliary Airforce which was something I knew little, if anything, about before picking up Code Name Verity. I loved the insight into the lives of women during the war, and particularly the pilots whose job it was to ferry people around. It's a dangerous job and my heart was in my mouth throughout the book as we see the characters face the reality of flying during the war. I have family in Stockport, where large parts of the book is set, so I was particularly wrapped up in those moments and that setting.

The story was so intricate with all the pieces starting to fall into place at the end as the story concludes. There were some incredible twists that I didn't see coming, and most of them just shattered my heart into a thousand tiny pieces! It's rare a book stirs up so much emotion in me, and all ranges of emotion at that. When I finished the book I had to take a moment to absorb everything that had happened. The story and characters will stay with me for a very long time. Despite how much this book tore me up inside, it's one of the few books I have wanted to read all over again the second I finished it. It's a book I'll be recommending and sharing with others and I can't wait to reread it in years to come.

Rating: 5*
What to read next: Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein
Books like this: My Family for the War by Anne C. Voorhoeve, The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

Review: All the Truth That's in Me by Julie Berry

All the Truth That's In Me by Julie Berry

Author: Julie Berry Website|Twitter
Published: 31 August 2013 (Templar)
Format: Paperback (proof)
Pages: 272
Buy the hardback: Amazon|BookDepository

Source: Received proof copy from publisher in exchange for an honest review (thanks Templar!)

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Four years ago, Judith and her best friend disappeared from their small town of Roswell Station. Two years ago, only Judith returned, permanently mutilated, reviled and ignored by those who were once her friends and family. Unable to speak, Judith lives like a ghost in her own home, silently pouring out her thoughts to the boy who’s owned her heart as long as she can remember—even if he doesn’t know it—her childhood friend, Lucas. But when Roswell Station is attacked, long-buried secrets come to light, and Judith is forced to choose: continue to live in silence, or recover her voice, even if it means changing her world, and the lives around her, forever. This startlingly original novel will shock and disturb you; it will fill you with Judith’s passion and longing; and its mysteries will keep you feverishly turning the pages until the very last.

My Review:
I was offered the chance to get a proof copy of this and just couldn't resist when I read the plot summary. All the Truth That's In Me tells the story of Judith who has returned to her hometown after she was captured and kept away from her home, friends and family for two years.

The first thing you notice whilst reading All the Truth That's in Me is the different way the author has chosen to narrate the story. Judith is telling the story to her childhood friend Lucas so it's written as if she's speaking to him (she refers to him as "you"). I really liked that and it immediately made it stand out from other books I'd read, as well as helping me connect with Judith and helping to get across how she feels about Lucas - something which plays a key role in the story. The book also uses short "chapters" broken up with Roman numerals, and these smaller chunks of text helped keep the book pacy and stopped my attention straying. It also meant I rarely put the book down because there wasn't that temptation to stop at the next chapter!

The opening of the book took a little getting into because it flits about in time. Judith is explaining both her life in Roswell Station before she was taken, whilst also giving hints at what is to come. Once I got used to it, however, I came to really love the storytelling. The nature of the small town was fascinating as it's one of those places where everyone knows each other and people are incredibly judgmental. The townsfolk face a lot of issues with Judith going missing and the body of her friend Lottie being found. There were also moments where they had to defend the town and I loved seeing how the characters coped and reacted to the realities of war and fighting. Throw in the struggle with money that many families face and that sometimes harsh living conditions and it made for an interesting backdrop to the story.

Ultimately, though, this is Judith's story and her tale is one that is completely captivating. I thought it was interesting that it took quite a way into the book for her name to appear, but it's made clear that that is done intentionally and it was a moment that was really poignant. When Judith returns from her time in captivity she's had part of her tongue removed and struggles to speak. I found that barrier she has to overcome and the way she coped with it made her someone you really want to root for. There's so much trauma she has to cope with and I just found her as a character completely compelling.

The relationships between the characters in All the Truth That's in Me were a real strong point for me. I particularly liked the relationship between Judith and her brother Darrel, and the developing bond between Judith and Maria. The fractious relationship between Judith and her mother was also one I drawn to. It was heartbreaking to witness. Then there were the baddies who obviously play a big role, what with Judith having being kidnapped. I loved how Berry has managed to create this complex web of suspicious characters and how the full story wasn't unravelled until the gripping conclusion to the book.

Although All the Truth That's In Me deals with some tough issues, it's definitely not all bleak. The second half of the book provides some truly uplifting moments and I could feel that sense of hope as the book moved along. It's a story where you really root for the characters and I became so wrapped up and invested in their lives that I couldn't put it down. It's not a particularly long book, and I was so reluctant to part from the pages that I read it in the space of a day.

I think this is one of those books that will appeal to a wide range of readers because it doesn't feel like anything else I've read, especially in YA. When I finished it I already had a load of names in my head of people I want to recommend this to who wouldn't usually read the same books as me. I think the writing is so strong and I defy anyone to not get drawn into the story and the characters, and just the fact the book is so unique made me feel like I was reading something truly special.

It takes a little while to get into All the Truth That's in Me but once you're there it's totally worth it because it's a story that will stay with you long after you close the pages. I'll definitely be reading more from this author from the future and recommending this book to anyone who wants something a little different with real emotion and heart to it.

Rating: 4*
What to read next: Secondhand Charm by Julie Berry
Books like this: A Gathering Light by Jennifer Donnely

Review: Fire Spell by Laura Amy Schlitz

Fire Spell by Laura Amy Schlitz

Author: Laura Amy Schlitz Website
Published: 13 September 2012 (Bloomsbury)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 400
Buy the paperback: Amazon|BookDepository
Buy the e-book: Kindle|Kobo

Source: Borrowed

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Clara disappears on her birthday. Exceptionally wealthy and exceptionally lonely, she requested that a puppeteer and his two orphan helpers stage a spellbinding show for her in the vast empty house. But then the curtains close and darkness falls ...

My Review:
Fire Spell was one of those rare things in that it was a book I hadn't heard of before I came across it. The story follows Clara who becomes fascinated by the puppeteer Grisini and the children who help run his shows. Suddenly she becomes more wrapped up in their world in ways she couldn't possibly have imagined.

I quickly fell in love with Fire Spell. It's told in third person and the opening chapters give us a little bit of history about each of the main characters by focusing on each one of them. I adored the characters in this book. We start off with Clara who upon first impressions seems like a spoilt rich kid, but I always felt there was more to her character and I was proved right. She has things pretty tough since losing all of her siblings to illness and her parents don't treat her very nicely at all.

My favourite character, though, was Lizzie Rose - Grisini's assistant. She's so caring and always wants to do the right thing. I really liked the relationship between her and Parsefall who she's come to see as a brother. Grisini himself is completely horrible and I was really curious to see what schemes he was up to!

As well as those main characters, there are also occasional chapters about the witch Cassandra, who has fallen under the curse of an old necklace. This, and a few other elements of the story, add to the magical side of the tale. It reminded me very much of Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus with that feeling of there being something bigger going on that you're never quite sure what it is.

The pace is quite gentle, and because there's a lot of time dedicated to getting to know each character it took a while for things to get going. However as soon as there was a bit of a revelation about what happened to Clara I was hooked. There was plenty of mystery and I could feel the story building towards something.

Fire Spell is set in Victorian London and the setting was one of my favourite things about the book. I could completely immerse myself in that atmosphere and see the settings and locations so vividly in my head. The writing was so beautiful and helped me escape into the story. I also loved how Fire Spell addressed things like poverty in London and how it affects Lizzie Rose and Parsefall.

The climax to Fire Spell was full of action but most importantly it places a great focus on the characters. I loved how everything was rounded up. I'll definitely be recommending this one because it was so unique. It had the perfect blend of mystery and magic to keep me intrigued the whole way through, and delivered characters I really grew to care about. A truly unique story.

Rating: 4*
What to read next: The Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schlitz
Books like this: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Review: A Gathering Light by Jennifer Donnelly

A Gathering Light by Jennifer Donnelly

Author: Jennifer Donnelly Website|Twitter
Published: 3 May 2004 (Bloomsbury)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 380
Buy the paperback: Amazon|Waterstone's|BookDepository

Source: Bought for me as a gift

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
When Mattie is given letters by a guest at the hotel where she has a summer job, she thinks the guest is simply upset. But when the woman is found drowned next day, Mattie must decide whether she will read them, or burn them as requested. A touching funny surprising novel set in 1906 and based on a true story.

My Review:
A Gathering Light follows Mattie Gokey who grows up with aspirations to do more than work on her father's farm. When she takes on a job in a local hotel she becomes wrapped up in the mystery of a woman who dies tragically on the lake after leaving a series of letters in Mattie's possesion.

It took me a little while to get into A Gathering Light, partly because it darted backwards and forwards in time in a way that wasn't clearly indicated. The book flits between Mattie's time at home on the farm and her time working at the hotel but there was nothing at the beginning of the chapters to suggest the time or place had changed so it took a few paragraphs for me to register the switch sometimes. Aside from that it was a technique I really liked because it made the story even more gripping as I tried to work out how the two parts would fit together. There were also a lot of characters introduced in the beginning who I had to get my head around.

Once I overcame these very small barriers, though, I really began to enjoy the story and those characters, especially Mattie herself who narrates the story. She's a real fighter! Not only does she have to fight her father for the right to go off to work, but she has to battle for the right to gain an education. Mattie is obviously very bright and loves to read (I always adore characters who are passionate about books!) and dreams of being a writer. It was so easy to root for her when she was facing such obstacles.

I really liked the way the book was written. The use of local accent and dialect in the way the characters spoke really brought them to life and allowed me to get lost in their world. The book also used Mattie's habit of finding a world of the day from the dictionary and integrated it into the book, with each chapter titles with her particular word of the day. I can be quite sceptical of characters who read the dictionary because I can't help but think it's a way for the author to add in fancy words they couldn't otherwise use in context, but in the case it worked because Mattie is so passionate about learning and reading.

A Gathering Light covers a lot of social issues including poverty and the racism suffered by Mattie's friend Weaver (who was actually one of my favourite characters!). It also highlighted the attitudes towards women at the time. I thought the relationship between Mattie and her female teacher - a writer whose books have been banned because and scrutinised because for their content - was one of my highlights of the book, and that was a really interesting insight into Mattie's place in the world as a woman. The romance element of A Gathering Light also raised a few issues with Mattie having to weigh up her true feelings from what was expected by her from society.

What's even more impressive about A Gathering Light is that it's based on real events, and the author's note at the back of the book shows just how well researched the book is, even if parts of the story are fictionalised. I really liked the mystery of the letters left in Mattie's possesion which are the real life basis to the story. Like Mattie, I longed to know what happened.

This isn't usually the type of thing I'd choose to read and I probably would never have come across it or thought to read it if it hadn't been given to me. I don't read a lot of historical but it's definitely a genre I'm interested in reading more of. A Gathering Light definitely persuaded me of that! I ended up really falling for the story and the setting, as well as the time the book takes place. It was my mum who bought me this book after she read and enjoyed it with her book group, and I think the fact we both liked it sums up the wide appeal of this novel. It should appeal to fans of YA with the focus being on Mattie, a teenager herself, as well as appealing to wider readers because of the beautiful nature of the writing.

Once I settled into this book I absolutely fell in love with it. I'd highly recommend it to those, who like me, maybe steer clear of historical novels, because A Gathering Light was a revelation and a delight, and a book I believe can cross generations. It's one I'll be recommending for years to come.

Rating: 4*
What to read next: Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
Books like this: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Review: Tethers by Jack Croxall

Tethers by Jack Croxall

Author: Jack Croxall Website|Twitter
Published: 5 Feburary 2013 (Amazon)
Format: Kindle e-book
Pages: 228
Amazon: Kindle

Source: Kindle freebie

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Karl and Esther have spent almost every day of their thirteen years in the quiet market town of Shraye. Stifled by their rural surroundings and frustrated by their unfulfilled ambitions, they find the allure of the journal’s mysterious pages impossible to ignore. The book seems to be beckoning them away from Shraye, away from their homes and towards the coast where an unsolved disappearance has set in motion a dark chain of events.

The voyage the teenagers soon find themselves undertaking is one of desperate importance and true peril; it will change the way they see the world, and each other, forever.

My Review:
I grabbed Tethers as a free Kindle download a few weeks ago because it looked like something a bit different! The book tells the story of Karl and Esther, who come across a mysterious notebook. When they discover their names appear in the book, they end up swept up in an adventure to discover what it all means.

I can honestly say after finishing it that Tethers was such a breath of fresh air! It was such a fun, likable story yet it had so much going for it. I'll start with the characters who were pretty awesome. I adored Esther and Karl. The book is told in third person from Karl's point of view and I really liked that, because he was the perfect person character to carry the story. He's clearly bright and has a great future ahead of him with an almost guaranteed spot to train as a teacher when he finishes school, but his longing for adventure and exploring the world overtakes him. I think so many of us can relate to his wish to want to get out there amongst the action. Esther was really interesting as well and was the perfect character to balance out Karl. They made a really great team and she was so feisty!

I liked that they were slightly younger characters, too. Karl and Esther are thirteen and they still have that childlike innocence about them. There was also a brilliant relationship between the adult characters and the two kids. They were treated like equals throughout the whole adventure, something which really endeared me to those older characters.

I really enjoyed the writing style of Tethers. Everything was so beautifully described that from the beginning I could really envisage everything that the characters were seeing. I particularly liked how the characters spoke and the fact that they're local accent was reflected in their speech. I'm such a stickler for accurate sounding dialogue and in this book it was spot on! I could really hear the characters voices as I read.

Tethers is really a fantastic adventure tale and anyone looking for a bit of escapism should definitely check it out. I really got carried away with Karl and Esther as they travel across the country to try and get to the bottom of what's written in the notebook. That mystery element was really impressive as well. I loved all the twists and turns and revelations. There was so much attention to detail as well, and things I didn't think were that relevant at the time suddenly become linked to the plot in such a clever way!

I think the only thing that took a bit of getting used to with this book was how a lot of the details about what's happening have to be relayed from the older characters, who hold the answers, to Karl and Esther. There would sometimes be quite long conversations where I just couldn't wait to get back to the action! But there was plenty of action to make up for it, especially at the climax of the story.

Tethers hooked me in with a great prologue and left me hanging with an teaser of an epilogue! This is the first book in a planned trilogy and needless to say I can't wait to find out what happens. I think there's huge potential for this story and I can't wait to be reunited with those characters and set off on another adventure!

Rating: 4*
What to read next: Tethers is the first book in a planned trilogy
Books like this: Sky Song by Sharon Sant

Review: Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices, #3) by Cassandra Clare

Spoiler warning! This is the 3rd and final book in The Infernal Devices trilogy and this review will contain spoilers from books 1 and 2. I haven't reviewed those books on the blog but you can find out more about Clockwork Angel on Goodreads here, and if you've read that then Clockwork Prince is here. This review will be as spoiler free as possible when it comes to what happens in Clockwork Princess because I don't want to give anything away to others. Please respect that in the comments!

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

[Goodreads page]

Author: Cassandra Clare Website|Twitter
Published: 19 March 2013
Format: Paperback
Pages: 568
Amazon: Paperback|Kindle
Waterstone's: Paperback
Book Depository: Paperback

Source: Borrowed

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Tessa Gray should be happy - aren't all brides happy?
Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute.
A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her. 

My Review:
I was so relieved to finally have this book in my hands. There was so much build up, from the cover reveal to the book trailer. It's been so hard to avoid spoilers especially, so this will be a spoiler-free review in that I won't give away the ending, or any plot twists or resolutions. I'll just recap basic plot points and state what I did and didn't like.

Clockwork Princess starts out with Tessa preparing for her wedding to Jem and with the threat of Mortmain still looming. There are two parts of this review because I need to cover how I felt Clockwork Princess worked as a book on its own, and how it worked as a conclusion to the series. As a book in itself it was fantastic, because within fifty pages there was a whole load of action and fighting which wrapped me up that Shadowhunter world and had that great sense of familiarity. It reminded me what I loved about these books and gave me all the action and excitement I was hoping for!

The story itself throughout this book was definitely full of suspense and drama. I really was fearing for a lot of the characters. So much was happening around them that there was that real sense of danger. The first two thirds of the book feel like everything is building up slowly and then suddenly the last couple of hundred pages go by in a whirlwind of action and emotion.

One of my favourite parts of this book was definitely the characters themselves and how they got a real chance to shine. In particular I loved discovering more about Cecily who showed herself to be a real fighter. Her relationship with Will and how they were rediscovering each other was very touching. I also enjoyed the challenging relationship between Gideon and Gabriel Lightwood. All the characters are put to the test and some people come out better than others, but they all had something to add to the story and even the smaller characters (Sophie for instance, who I was really rooting for!). Will's humour was a great presence in this book to lighten the tone which was brilliant, and I have so much love for Jem who has probably become one of my favourite characters over the course of the trilogy. And this book definitely pulled at the heartstrings! There were some really emotional moments and I felt myself getting all emotional for these characters I'd grown to know and love, or even grown to loathe!

Looking at Clockwork Princess from the wider angle of it being the last book in The Infernal Devices trilogy also gives me a lot to say. In particular I loved how elements of the history of the world Clare has created are explored more fully (Henry's inventions for example) and this book definitely gives you a lot of insight as to how all the characters from this book link up with those in The Mortal Instruments. The copy I read had a family tree at the back which was fascinating to read, but only look at it once you've read the book. Luckily I'd been warned about that before starting so I knew not to peek because it gives a lot away. But I adored how the characters all interconnected with each other.

On the other hand, the thing I was most anticipating from this third and final book was the resolution of the love triangle between Tessa, Jem and Will. I'm not going to give away what happened but I will say that I wasn't particuarly happy with the ending. Nor was I happy with what happened during the course of the book. There was one scene that made me really lose respect for Tessa and from then on it somewhat tainted my enjoyment of the book. It was near the end so it was only about a hundred pages where it niggled at me, but I was very disappointed. I've discussed my feelings about it with other people and nobody seems to agree with me, so it's obviously a very personal opinion on the matter and something that probably won't bother everyone.

The climax to the book, though, was incredible. Not only was there action but there were huge twists I just did not see coming. You know when you have to text your friend in allcaps when something jawdropping happens? Yeah, I did that. My mind was completely blown away by some of the closing action scenes and I just couldn't put it down. I read this book in about three days which is super quick for me when it comes to a book of this size.

There was a nice sense of finality at the end though and I felt everybody had their own story wrapped up, so that when you finish it feels like a nice place to end. Overall I've really enjoyed this trilogy and it's one I hope to re-read in the future. The writing is so beautiful and the characters so funny and a joy to read about. I was hoping this would be a 5* book but I'm definitely leaving it with some sense of disappointment, although I know plenty of people thought the ending was the perfect way to leave it.

Rating: 4*
Books like this: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, Unearthly by Cynthia Hand