Holy $hit!
4.5 stars. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm ornithophobic, and given that this book is written through the eyes of a magpie, I'm surprised I read it! But it's Catherine Chidgey ... how could I NOT read it? I have so many thoughts about this book, and it's going to take me a while to unpack them. I have thoughts about domestic abuse, families (both avian and human), colonisation, anthropomorphism, consumerism ... the list goes on. Check back with me in a year or two! CW: domestic violence, loss of a foetus, body horror, animal death/killing Y12, Y13 Senior Fiction
3.5 stars I think I probably needed to read that in print format, as to my uncultured ear the names spoken aloud were too similar to distinguish, and I fear I may have missed nuances throughout! Fascinating insight from an 'own voices' author with themes of: cultural gender specificity/colossal misogyny, colonialism, religious discourse divisions etc. CW: body horror, cultural-based killings, suicide Y13, Scholarship, Staff
3.5 stars Pretty good! I loved the strength of the MC, set against her would-be fiancé ... he's brilliant as a character. On the eAudio, Bastion has a husky voice, which added to the piratical tension in places. I really enjoyed the freshness of the story. Usual fantasy plot etc. but it had enough of its own flavour to carry it. Solid 3.5 stars. CW: body horror, self harm for magic, sexual references Y10, Y11
4.5 stars! My goodness Kenneth Oppel does suspenseful well! Usually I'm rolling my eyes and thinking "I can see what you're TRYING to do here ...", but this author's ability to convey, not tell, is superb. It lost half a mark for a bit of deus ex machina, but it's nicely set up for the rest of the series. CW: LOTS of body horror, child abadonment Y10, Y11
I have to borrow the words of another Goodreads reviewer for this one: "What if Grimm’s fairytales went on a vodka bender in rural Russia and came back with frostbite and a vendetta?" LOL! Wow. Just wow. This story is anything but boring, and required full focus to enjoy the richness and detail. I had to really maintain focus at all ties in order not to miss any of the action, as it turned on a dime! Some books I can fold the washing to ... not this one. Fabulous MC, fabulous setting (the setting was a character in itself), incredible storytelling. CW: copious amounts of body horror, death of a parent [Y10], Y11, Y12
That was the most boring start to a book that I've read for a while. it did pick up, but ... Y'all know that Fantasy isn't really my jam, but good grief, this was just painful. 3x speed didn't save the pacing. 3x speed didn't save the MC from being so boring. 3x speed didn't save me from not caring one iota about the plot. Hilarious moment where they decide to build a wall to keep the undesirables out (Mexico?) and in order to keep their country full of people who do not question authority. #tooclose #orangeturd CW: body horror, 'death of a parent' Y9
Well, I liked it enough to keep reading ... It had a pattern to the plot and was well structured, so points for that! It lost points for having an MC who is constantly at war with her "Buzzfeed feminism" (her words) and her goth vibe, when it all goes out the window with some pretty words from a boy and a pretty dress for dinner. Maybe I am just old and bitter, and *know* that some people are inherently awful (just look at the world's political situation!), so I was a tad irritated that it took so long for the protagonists to think that the worst *could* be going on ... I got it from the first chapter!!! Anyway, this is for those who like an eat-the-rich-but-actually-want-to-be-rich vibe, a school story, and a novel about teens being nasty away from adult supervision. CW: body horror, torture (psychological and physical - mild), cult vibes, suicide Y10, Y11
I really enjoyed this offering by Andrew Lane. Quintessentially British and with a lot of jolly hockey-sticks, Sherlock begins to develop his personal detective style under the tutelage of an older man with some outlandish ideas for the time. Germ theory ... what's that to the masses!!? Apart from a totally unnecessary ogling of the man's daughter while she is wearing breeches and riding astride her horse (era-related shock is understandable, but why sexualise it???), it has aged fairly well. CW: body horror Y9
I am familiar with Oakes' no-$hits-given attitude and refusing to having her female MCs bound by the manic-pixie-dream girl trope ... and I like it. Dinah is both unpredictable and a bit sensible; she wears wool when it is cold as opposed to flimsy 'beautiful' dresses princesses 'should' be wearing! YAY! This was sitting at a solid 3 stars for most of the book, but made its way to 3.5 by the end. The ending left me wanting more, hence the round up to 4 stars. It may not be everyone's cup of tea. but I actually enjoyed it and wasn't bored at all. Will be perfect for our Retellings Unit. CW: body horror, torture (not detailed), death of a sibling Y9, Y10, Y11
Super cute queer romance with all the elements of a good story ... so why did my mind wander so often? Even at 3x speed, I found myself wishing things would progress a bit faster. Maybe some editing was required? Or maybe I'm just impatient! CW: very mild sexual references Y11, Y12
Yes, this is book one and I'm reading them backwards! All of the wonderful 'voice' of book two is there, alongside the pull-no-punches action. It's as if the author has just let the action unfold rather than even writing it. Hard to explain! CW: body horror Y10, Y11
Ok. Good ideas, but I got overwhelmed with the glitter bomb of how 'right' everything turned out, especially juxtaposed against the starving child and parental death. A bit jarring. I can TOTALLY see why it has this rating on GR: 1. LGTBQIA+ protagonist 2. love triangle that works with the girl dating both boys but only being intimate with one and the ace boy being in love with both and occasionally physically affectionate with the girl. I can see people's heads spinning from here! 3. All of the protagonists choosing an education path outside of friends' and parental expectations CW: sexual references, death of a parent, bullying Y11
This was really good! Just the right mix of world building, fantasy elements, relationships, banter and unexpected authenticity. A bit of insta-love, but I didn't mind it. Onto the second in the series now. I MUST know what happens!!! CW: body horror, fairly intimately described sexy fondling, death of a parent Y10, Y11 ... but I know my Y9s will want it.
Great, clear, interesting patterns. With my daughter being a newly qualified midwife, I've started knitting newborn baby hats for her to hand out at each birth. This book was extremely helpful!
Just ok for me. Just scraped into 3 stars. Good for paranormal 'beginners' with lots of explaining and setting up of the series ... which I probably won't read. CW: possession, self harm while possessed, body horror Y9, Y10
This book gets 4 GR stars for its scathing indictment of racism in British society and for providing an interesting storyline to carry it. Almost lost a whole star for a very weird ending, however. It's like the author couldn't see a sensible way to end it (and it IS like an unsolvable puzzle!), so they just ended it! So, 3.5 rounded up. The British monarchy as a subject is always a bit polarising. Add in some affairs and a gay king, and you've got a powder keg! Interesting whodunit that kept me reading. CW: sexy fun times (mild), homomisia Y10, Y11 Plus an accidental re-read in 2026! Thought it felt very familiar ...
3 stars ... but would book talk it as is a just-not-for-me book. Ooof. Brick bats: * instalove * miscommunication trope * 'learning a life lesson' as a heavy plot device * shallow/one-dimensional characters Bouquet: * it teetered on the edge of good for about half of the book ... if the FMC had spoken up earlier, this book had real potential for an authentic romance. BUT it didn't. Great for those who like their romance unchallenged by originality or depth. #someonewillloveit CW: organ transplant, sexual references Y9, Y10, Y11
I listened to this as an audiobook (with a full spectrum of voices and accents) and it was most immersive. I think what I liked most about the story was its blend of good writing, pace, action, and detail. Each of these 4 elements were in balance, making it interesting and 'human' if you already knew the facts, and very insightful and interesting if you were only familiar with the overall concept/outcome. So many parallels in this book to Trump's America right now, particularly with the ICE shooting. Terrifying, but well-packaged and accessible to teens. CW: body horror, moral turpitude, gun violence Y9, Y10, Y11
I found that such hard going BUT it is simply because I had a few 'life' things going on at the time, and I'm not a huge fantasy fan. I can see that it is a good book, AND I can see all the ingredients that have gone into making it good, AND I felt all the emotional bits ... I just can't put it all together past a 3 stars for me. It'll be someone's 4.5-5 star read, guaranteed! CW: serious amounts of body horror, religion, sexism, possession (Y10 serious fantasy readers), Y11, Y12
3.5 stars. Good grief. Where do I start? The beginning was exactly the same as a million other stories I've read, and I was not holding out any hope whatsoever. A third of the way through, we're doing the same old same old stuff, over and over, then the book shifts gears and actually gets some depth!!! I think this is the point where it loses some of its original fans, and potentially keeps the rest of us interested enough to finish the book. IF ONLY it could have picked a path and stayed on it. Path 1: re-hash of every other story of a group of trapped teens (there's an audience) Path 2: create a story with a maniac in charge who has got a warped political message, and run a trans rights and a 'you don't need to smile more' feminist message throughout the book. THAT'S THE WHOLE BOOK I WANTED. If only. CW: body horror, death, trauma recounted Y10, Y11
Holy $hit. This is NOT for the faint-hearted. This book worked its way into my psyche and won't leave. OMG. I will do the other books in the series, but I'll take a break first in case they're as intense as this one. Ooof. CW: rape, consent, explicitly described acts of sexual intimacy (some paid for), voyeurism Y13+ with clear warnings from staff Staff
I *really* like this author!! Great language, great emotions, great characters. I understand that the US of A is a litigious society, but I couldn't shake the feeling that the premise of the storyline had too many holes. E.g. could one of the other boys have grabbed Mars' phone and texted on his behalf? If Mars DID text, where is free will on Mars' parr to CHOOSE to text and drive? Why was Carver even blamed, let alone investigated? Having said that, that wasn't the point of the story. The story is about grief, forgiveness, and how to cope/move on. And it did that part exceptionally well. <3 <3 <3 CW: death of loved ones Y10, Y11, Y12
4.5 stars I read this as an audiobook (print book comes out April 2026) ... with music, sound effects, and a literal cast of voice actors. As it is all about the power of music, it seems an apt way to experience this great story! Having said that, I simply cannot read slower than 2.5 speed, as both the years of me reading quickly and my ADHD kick in and I want to rip my arms off at a slower speed. That fact made this book a bit awkward for me, as the music sounded oh-so-weird, as well as the singing and the sound effects!!! Slow down, I hear you say. Sorry, can't. I like my arms where they are. It took me a while to get into this book (as I started on 2 speed (see ... I tried?), but when I connected, I was hooked. Jason, you rock. CW: death of a loved one, domestic abuse, cancer, racism Y10, Y11
3.5 stars Ooooh, I do love a good cult book! This one was a tad predictable for me, with a hint of instalove, and a predictable plotline. I did enjoy the quotes from other real-life cult leaders all the way through, though!!! I think this novel will suit someone just beginning their journey into cult-based fiction. Enjoyable overall. CW: body horror, death of a family member Y10
3.5 stars Good, solid murder mystery! I enjoyed the relationship between the two MCs (rocky in parts!) and found it an easy, non-taxing read. Nothing amazing, but not boring either. Y10, Y11 CW: body horror, alcohol and sex mentioned
3.5 stars Libby tells me I've read this before. GR tells me I haven't. My brain has no memory of it, so I'm going with GR! This could have been a solid 4 stars but for the instalove/instalust/instatrust/instabonding between characters. Our MC goes from hating her 'mum' and feeling betrayed by her to 1000000% willing to give her life for her, unreservedly. Hmmm. Our MC goes from meeting 'boy-crush' to full-on love-lust-trust even when she's told not to trust anyone. Double hmmmmm. I would very much like to know what a prototype '16yo girl' personality and emotions actually looks like - I know a lot of 16yo girls, and they are NOT all alike, as evidenced by the nasty young women at the beginning of the story. Sigh. So many plot holes ... but are they plot holes, or will they be filled in as we learn more in the series??? CW: violence and body horror/light torture, death of a parent Y9, Y10
Completely improbable and quite fun! Very action-packed and a fast-paced read. The tech they tout as 'cutting edge' is quite old now, but it doesn't diminish the plot. I admit that I laughed when the machine turned into a literal Transformer (more than meets the eye ... ), but that was just part of the fun. Solid 4 stars, and if the readers of this series are happy to sit back and be entertained without any thoughts about reality and physics, it's a win! CW: torture mentioned, gun violence, body horror Y9
I picked this up to read as it came up in my 'weeding' pile at work and, given renewed interest in dragons for teens, I decided to read it and see. I enjoy quirky books, and this one fits the bill beautifully. Set in a fantasy land, it is firmly rooted in Victorian ideals and mores, which causes no end of obstacles for our dragon-mad naturalist female MC. I loved the narrator, the humour, the action and the mystery. I particularly loved the maid! This book is for those who like the 'unusual' in a novel, or like a kick-a$$ heroine (in her own way!), or like dragons ... or just like good novels! CW: animal death, body horror Y10, Y11
4.5 stars I have NO idea who I would recommend this book to! It's beauty is in its faultless voice, incredible and solid characters, and the magic of a good story. If I described the plot here, it would probably take a maximum of 3-4 sentences ... but that would utterly miss the point. This was a joy to become immersed in, even though I have not had the opportunity to read the first book in which we met the MC. This can stand alone, but I wish I'd known there was another book to read first! CW: pretty graphic body horror, gun violence, racism Y12, Y13
I really enjoyed this book. It took me so long to read because it returned itself at 70% and I had to wait for my reserve again! Luckily the author had created such engaging characters that I simply stepped back into it like I'd never been gone. I did experience a significant disconnect between the cover and blurb and the content of the book. For me, it had the look of a Y6-ish book, but the MC is knocking on 14 years old, and is dealing with some very heavy stuff! I would not put this book any lower than Y9, minimum. Having said that, the author treats the subject matter with authenticity and care; the fact that she has been a counselor for Youthline for many years shines through. Overall, fabulous book. Kudos to the author. CW: parental neglect Y9, Y10
3 stars I wasn't scared (and I scare EASILY) and the characters were a little mercurial for my liking: insta-friendship then not-friends then friends who distrust each other ... get it together, people! I wanted to feel a little frisson of fear, not impatience for the book to end. CW: possession, death of a parent, body horror Y9, Y10
Superb! Beautifully written, well-drawn characters, and a great plot. Yep, I cried. This book deals with heavy themes but the friendship between these characters shines through everything ... AND the author neatly sidesteps several potential deus ex machina situations. Great stuff. CW: suicidal ideation, reference to child porn as a criminal act, body horror, domestic abuse, gun violence Y11, Y12, Y13 Senior Fiction
Well, I now know more about D&D than I've ever known! Nice run-of-the-mill fake-dating high school romance with the requisite misunderstanding that needs to be resolved ...WITH gaming and musicals! Yep, beat that! I really enjoyed the take-no-prisoners fashion choices, the tenacity, and the try-new-things attitude of the MC. AND I enjoyed the complete plonker of an ex-boyfriend ... he's a good love-to-hate character! Y9, Y10, Y11 ❤️
3.5 stars Good solid fantasy. I admit to tuning out a bit occasionally, but fantasy readers will likely be glued to it! CW: body horror, Y9, Y10
Aside from a couple of sexist clangers that show this book's age, I really enjoyed it. It felt like a set-up book for all the things James Bond would become, along with a great plot with some cracking action. A dollop of pathos, compassion, and justice has done a lot for this story. Good writing and happy to recommend. CW: body horror (icky!), sexism, death of a relative Y9, Y10
3.5 rounded up Not bad at all for a debut novel! More thriller than sports book BUT I am super knowledgeable about diving now. There was even a shout out to Tom Daley in there!!! #loveTom A bit of deus ex machina in there, but I'll forgive it. There was a lot of magical realism included too, so we can't really quibble about it being unrealistic!!! CW: drug/medication use/abuse, alcohol, sexual references, death of a parent (Y10) Y11 Y12
Not a 4 star in the true sense of what I would usually rate a 4 star, but for a Barrington Stoke book that has the parameters it has (simplified grammar, vocabulary, structure and length), it was pretty good! CW: body horror Y9, Y10
2.5 stars. When is a romantasy not quite a romantasy? When is a fantasy not quite a fantasy? This tried to be too many things at once but failed to create the fundamental element of a good book ... characters that one could care about. I could not have cared less about ANY of them. And the story itself was a regurgitation of *many* other stories I have read. Just a no from me. if I were to recommend this book (in a parallel universe), Y10 with a CW for body horror (including cutting for blood magic) and mild sexual references.
Really good story featuring tense and engaging game play. This is written from the author's own experience (with poetic license, naturally) which lens to the authenticity of the voice, characters and plot. This book combines sport with real life situations such as friendship, grief, pseudo-celebrity and the ensuing pressures of such 'fame'. CW: alcohol and drugs, racism Y10, Y11, Y12
Yeah, nah. I got bored. 2.5 stars
Boy, is this a guilty little pleasure! 4 stars for enjoyment, not necessarily for writing, plot etc. Lol.
CW: paedophilia ring, sexual abuse, substance abuse. 4.5 stars. I feel wrecked and sick. 'Nuff said.
Ok. This one will work for HP fans BUT it has a AFAB POC MC, so if you're a Rowling fan, you might need to check your general bigotry at the door. #inflammatorycomment #sorrynotsorry 12yo Amari is a POC kid from the 'wrong side of the tracks', battling both racist and poverty-driven backlash in her ordinary school. Things don't improve when she is singled out (HP stylez) as the bestest and brightest student at her new magical school. Events happen, friendships are forged, evil magical forces arrive, and Amari is on hand! Did I enjoy it? Yes. Could I see it all coming? Yes. Did that matter? Probably not. The main difference between this and HP is the 'underdog' nature of the MC. Although she is the sister of the famous Quentin who went before her, she is not celebrated as a conquering heroine, but has to fight for acceptance. Otherwise, it's HP. Y9
Very enjoyable read with a cool and unique premise. Granted, 7 teens attempting to solve a disappearance is hardly new, but the world and the story itself are very cool. It loses a star for insta-feelings and deus ex machina vibes, but completely maintained my interest throughout. Kudos to the author! CW: body horror (mild)
Cute romance. i liked the brisk pace and didn't even mind the almost insta-love as I feel the MC was so ready to love and be loved! CW: mild making out Y9 Y10 Y11
4.5 rounded up Excellent adult psychological thriller. I guessed the plotline very early, but Robotham's clever writing kept me enthralled all the way through. CW: fairly intimate sexy fun times, death of a child, suicidal ideation Adult
Well, I finally read one! I enjoyed it overall. Was a bit worried when the detective's breasts were mentioned twice in the first few pages, but I'm going to give Lee the benefit of the doubt, as this was written in 1997. Hopefully there has been an improvement in the author's ability to write 3 dimensional female characters. I genuinely think I may have missed the love train on this one. My son-in-law loves these books, my mum loves these books, GR readers love these books ... to me it just felt like one big unrealistic trope by the end. It is to crime writing as Mills and Boon is to romance. Ok, that's a bit harsh, but you catch my drift! Maybe I'll try this author's latest Jack Reacher and see if there's an improvement? CW: sexy fun times, gratuitous violence and body horror (seriously!) Senior Fiction Y12 Y13
This is the best book I have read this year! Feminist, kicka$S, clever, challenging, beautifully written ... and did I mention clever? I chose the lady AND the tiger, btw. Farewell, Belle - I will miss being in this book with you. CW: body horror, sexual abuse (not described but very clearly and directly alluded to), death of a parent, death of an animal, sexual intimacy (relatively mild) Senior Fiction Y12, Y13
3.5 stars rounded up. I can totally relate to this well-crafted portrayal of the chaos, pain and passion of a teenage life. Our MC is flawed, broken, and not always making good choices ... but she is human and scared, and for that reason I could connect with her. The supporting cast of characters really do come to the party to hinder or help her and the plot and writing is spot on. CW: unwanted sexual advances, alcohol and drug use Y11, Y12
3.5 stars Libby tells me I have read this before ... but Goodreads tells me I haven't. Hmmmm. Either way, I didn't review it then, so here goes. This wasn't what I expected. The title gave such good horror zombies vibes, so I was little taken aback at the 'love story that had zombies' that was this book. It kind of had 'Station Eleven' elements at one point but was, in essence, quite a simple story and plot to follow. CW: body horror, death, murder Y10, Y11
3.5 rounded up. Rough start, and I almost gave up! BUT, the book had been recommended to me, so I persevered ... and I'm glad I did. The novel ended up capturing friendship and love and romance in all its messy glory, and I quite enjoyed it. CW: unwanted sexual advances, mild sexy fun times Y10, Y11, Y12
This is a curly one. it started off as one type of story (and, not being a teen boy myself, I wasn't that enamoured of the 'girls-as-walking-boobs-and-panties' vibe), and then it ended up somewhere TOTALLY different. I think it would have worked better as either one or the other kind of book ... Not sure I can recommend this book, but I can recommend the author - one of his other series is one of my favourites. ❤️❤️❤️ CW: suicidal ideation, sexual assault off page, mild sexy fun times described
Loved it. Funny, smooth, clever ... I found myself wanting to ask the world to just go away for the day and let me read!
I kinda have whiplash! Overtly se*y scenes, then the love interest is no more, then the comment 'one should read romance books with one hand' (!??!) then the ending. Oh well ... It was an ok ride.
It's so bad, it's kinda good. LOL! #nonlitlit
This book has so many problems, so why am I on book two? #iwannaknowwhathappens #falliblelibrarians
I can see the appeal for teens, but I found it bit derivative and trope-y!
Stunning read - highly recommend, but look at the content warnings before you dive in ...
Love love love love this author!!!! Fab book. ❤️❤️❤️
I have abandoned this book. It just wasn't grabbing me. :(
3.5 stars. A little too much heavy foreshadowing for too long ... I got impatient! I do enjoy this author, however.