Blog Tour: Strange The Dreamer

Strange The Dreamer 
Rating: 5/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of my shelves! 

The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around—and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he’s been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.

What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?

The answers await in Weep, but so do more mysteries—including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo’s dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? And if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real?

Welcome to Weep. 

I'm going to level with all of you, I got Strange The Dreamer when the fancy hardback was released in Waterstones last year...you know the one? Blue sprayed edges...signed...has some pretty sweet sketches in it courtesy of the author? Yep that one! It's been sitting neatly on my shelf where it can't be harmed, waiting for the day I finally have the time to read it.....and that time finally came. When I was asked to participate in this blog tour to celebrate the release of the paperback version (which is super pretty and I think I need to buy it), I had to say yes because it was an excuse to bump the book up my TBR so I could review it, because as you all know, I've been pretty behind on review books and only just recently caught up which has left no time for everything else sitting on my shelf, sending me puppy eyes. 

Now that I'm sitting here, facing the monumental task of trying to review this book and find words to do it justice, I kind of want to punch past me for not reading it sooner because it was amazing. And when I say amazing, I mean it completely blew me away, for real. It's been so long since I sat and read a book in one sitting that wasn't on holiday, when I'm at home I generally read most books in a couple of sittings because I have so much to do, but I actually had to clear an entire day to read this because as soon as I read the prologue, I was like "Nope, reading this until the end, bye bye responsibilities". 

Strange The Dreamer has a cinematic and vivid opening that pulls you in and the writing keeps you there. The writing is completely gorgeous, it's rich and decadent with its descriptions, painting vivid pictures for you that bring the settings and characters to life. The writing also weaves an intriguing plot full of mystery and magic and alchemy and much, much more. I had so many questions while I was reading and I was thirsting after knowledge of the world. Once Lazlo explained the mystery of Weep I was hopelessly addicted and hooked to this book and I wasn't going anywhere until I'd finished it or at least gotten some clues, if not solved it. However, this book didn't fall in line with any of my expectations. It took them and blew right past them, turning them on their head and surprising me at every turn. Plus...the book was clever....but more on that later. 

First, I want to talk about Lazlo, I immediately loved Lazlo. I empathised with him and connected with him and most of all...I rooted for him. That didn't stop me being suspicious about he and his origins which was the one thing I accurately figured out on my own. The thing with Lazlo is within the first few chapters we see him playing pretend, pretending to be a warrior of the city he's so fascinated with and if that isn't relatable I don't know what is, because come on...we've all done it, when we where kids...teenagers...any age really. Plus you know...he loves books. I loved his narrative and his thirst for answers and knowledge about Weep. 

Along with Lazlo, the story is told from the POV of Sarai, I wasn't too sure about her at first but it didn't take me long to love her completely. Sarai is the daughter of one of the gods, godspawn if you will, and she was supposed to have been killed along with all the others. However, she was saved along with some others and the five of them live in the Citadel. I was so fascinated by her and her thought process. Sure she hated the murderers who wiped out everyone else, but at the same time Sarai is in the unique position, thanks to her gift, to understand why the humans did it. So she's kind of torn between hating them for what they did...but also understanding more than any of the others. I really enjoyed her as much as Lazlo and the two of them....someone sedate me, they where so damn cute and the ending damn near broke me. Not over it. I will probably never be over it. 

Strange The Dreamer is full of plenty of interesting characters both likeable and some...less so. I loved Ruza, he was a fun friend for Lazlo, I loved Calixte because she made me smile and chuckle, Feral I was less sure of, but I felt for Ruby and got where she was coming from. Eril-Fane...he's a difficult one because like Sarai...I get why he did what he did. I really do. I empathise and understand but at the same time you have to side eye him a bit for what he did. Then again it's not like he did it and life became all sunshine and rainbows for him. 

In the 'not so likeable' category there's the horrible little explosion dude, Draver I believe his name was. I honestly, much like the other characters, didn't pay all that much attention to him until he did the Thing we all should have seen coming and wanted to smack him for. Thyon was a tricky one for me, I have him in the 'dislike' camp, but when he first appeared I was thinking to myself, "Will I like you?" because I had a few ideas for how he and Lazlo's relationship could go. I was wrong. But then Lazlo revealed something to  us, the readers, that had me actually feeling sorry for him. Sure it's no excuse to be such a douche, but I did empathise with him and understand why he was the way he was. Then towards the end of the book I found my opinion changing again, because....I could see him becoming likeable. I could see he and Lazlo...maybe becoming friends finally. I guess I'll have to wait for the next book to form a solid opinion. 

Minya though? Wow I really didn't like her. I started out kind of being creeped out by her and mildly irritated, then I went to feeling sorry for her because to be honest...things had been rough for her. I wanted to like her, I wanted to be able to empathise with her and actually like her and not empathise with her but still kind of lowkey hate her...which was what I was doing. Upon finishing the book, I can confirm that she's a nasty little girl, she just went further and further down in my estimations, until the final few pages when I was like "You know what, I was rooting for you but you just took that chance and stamped all over it". Honestly I can't see myself liking her very much, ever. 

The thing about a good chunk of the characters is that there's no solid category to put them in. It's not black and white, it's kind of grey. As much as you might not like a character, the characters are written with such depth that you can understand them and their choices and the why of their actions. You might even feel for them a little bit when you're not being infuriated by them. 

Personally I thought the book was clever, because of the way the characters where portrayed, you basically have two separate camps, and each has their own version of events, and you get to see both. You feel for both. You understand both. But it's kind of hard to pick a side. Sarai saw both sides, as did Lazlo, but many other characters didn't have the same understanding. The other reason this book was clever? The details. There where so many details woven in to the story as you went, for example, the Citadel where Sarai lives. You see it through her eyes, and it's still kind of mysterious but you can still picture it, but then once Lazlo laid his eyes on it and described it for us from a different perspective...you know...outside, there's some surprise details thrown in which are then expanded upon by Sarai. I loved it. I constantly found my theories, thoughts, and opinions changing as little details like that where revealed slowly throughout the book. 

Strange The Dreamer is quite slow paced, which sounds harsh so lets go with slow burn instead, because while things really speed up and get going towards the end....the book still captivated me which is quite unusual as usually I prefer fast paced books with lots going on. Why? Because as you read, there are details and plot twists scattered throughout the plot like gems, suddenly being unearthed and blowing you away. I was so hooked in to this world I didn't even stop to take notes like I usually do when I review! I was constantly being drawn in and surprised, and amazed, and having questions answered before finding a million more questions to ask. 

The settings where vivid and imaginative, as was the story and the characters. The characters had depth and I wanted to know more about each of them. The developing relationships between characters was interesting to watch, and portrayed brilliantly. I genuinely could not put this book down, the intriguing cast and the mysteries kept me firmly hooked to the page. Not to mention the writing, like I said it was gorgeous, I can't even find words to properly describe it! It's freaking lyrical, and just...flows so perfectly. Much like the pace. 

The ending blew me away to be perfectly honest. I wasn't expecting it to be who it was when the Thing happened, and it changed everything for me. I had an idea of how things might go, and then the Thing happened and it was all turned on it's head and now I'm kind of like "huh...but...what now?!". I'm so excited for the sequel because things are certainly going to be interesting, the ending shifted my perspective on a few things and things I thought would happen and honestly...it kept on surprising me right up until the end. And you know, confirmed that any sympathy I might have had for Minya died it's last death. Sorry. 

Strange The Dreamer is a gift that keeps on giving, the more you read, the more surprises you uncover, and it's so brilliantly crafted. I'm honestly itching to get back to the world and the characters, and strongly encourage you all to binge read both when the second book's released! 

Review: Not If I Save You First

Not If I Save You First
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

Dear Logan,
Someday I'm going to write a book: How Not to Die in Alaska - A Girl's Guide to Fashionable Survival. I bet you don't know that a hair pin can make an excellent fishing hook. You may think you can use just any kind of mud for mud masks, but trust me, you CAN'T! In a pinch, nothing starts a fire like nail polish remover. Alaska is tough. You might know this, if you ever replied to my letters. 

After Maddie's Secret Service dad takes a bullet for the President, he takes Maddie somewhere he thinks they'll be safe....far away from the White House and the President's son, Logan. But when Logan comes to Alaska, or more like...is sentenced there for bad behaviour, he brings the danger with him. If there's one thing Alaska has taught Maddie, it's how to survive. And now her best friends life depends on it....

I really enjoy Ally's books, they're always fun and exciting and have some cute romance to go with the badass female characters. Gallagher Girls was such a blast of a series, as was Heist Society, although I still need to pick up Embassy Row! I was expecting much the same from this book, and I wasn't at all disappointed. 

The opening is entertaining and light hearted as we get introduced to the characters before heading in to some action and serious tension before we hit a nice little time skip. I liked the letters interspersed throughout to show us how Maddie's mind set changed as she spent time in Alaska, and how she felt regarding Logan, it was a nice touch that helped you connect with her and what she was feeling. 

All I really needed to know about Maddie was that she's the kind of girl to bedazzle her favourite hatchet. I loved her, although I did side eye her a bit at the beginning because she was giving off "I'm not like other girls" vibes and I was a bit wary of that. She really can take care of herself and she's quite the badass...but she's still girly and she made for such an entertaining main character! 

Logan I wanted to smack multiple times. Don't get me wrong, I thought he and Maddie where cute and there where plenty of fluffy and cute moments with the two. I'm so here for the romance. My issue with Logan was that he never seemed to quite get that Maddie was perfectly capable of handling herself...even after she demonstrated that she was multiple times. I could handle that, even if it did have me sighing a few times, what really irritated me? The way that anytime Stefan (the kidnapper), or any other guy would look at her or whatever, he went full Hulk and lost all of his chill. There was screaming and shouting and overly testosterone fuelled displays of machismo as he screeched at people not to touch her, or look at her and blah blah blah. Like seriously dude....chill. Have a sit down and a cup of tea and just....relax. It's all good. I think he was a bit bothered by the way he was pretty much useless and Maddie was the capable one. Hit him right in the masculinity. 

Overall Not If I Save You First was a fast paced, action packed and hugely entertaining read (including Logan, sure it was irritating but at the same time I had a good eye roll and "really dude" every time), with some cute romance sprinkled in. I will say that I was expecting the book to go one way, like with Maddie's dad, and I did end up being surprised by the twist at the end! I will forever be wondering how much of Maddie's survival tips are true...

Review: Spare and Found Parts

Spare and Found Parts
Rating: 3/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

Nell Crane has never held a boy's hand.

In a city devastated by an epidemic, where survivors are all missing parts-an arm, a leg, an eye-Nell has always been an outsider. Her father is the famed scientist who created the biomechanical limbs that everyone now uses. But she's the only one with her machinery on the inside: her heart. Since the childhood operation, she has ticked. Like a clock, like a bomb. And as her community rebuilds, everyone is expected to contribute to the society's good... but how can Nell live up to her father's revolutionary ideas when she has none of her own?

Then she finds a lost mannequin's hand while salvaging on the beach, and inspiration strikes. Can Nell build her own companion in a world that fears advanced technology? The deeper she sinks into this plan, the more she learns about her city-and her father, who is hiding secret experiments of his own.

Spare and Found Parts is quite a dark book, yet I found it to be kind of sad at points too, mostly thanks to Nell. While the world was intriguing and vivid, and I pictured it to be quite dark and gritty, the story kind of fell flat for me. Towards the end I was fully invested, but I will admit the start was heavy going for me and it was quite slow paced...so much so that I resorted to speed reading to reach a point when things really started to get going. 

I liked Nell well enough, I was on her side and I understood her and empathised with her, although she did come across as a little bit...I don't want to say crazy and unhinged seems a bit too harsh, but she did come across a certain way that had me side eyeing her at one point. She seems a bit Frankenstein-ish. I get that she just wants a friend and doesn't like being touched and so on...but she has two perfectly good friends ready and waiting, a fact she does eventually realise. 

I didn't really like Ruby much to be honest, and Oliver seemed like quite the creeper but I think that was largely down to Nell and her narrative because I'd changed my opinion by the end of the book and quite liked Ruby and Oliver really wasn't that bad. Nell kind of bias's you against certain characters. Odd seeing as Ruby is supposed to be her BFF. 

The flashbacks to Nell's childhood and how she grew up started out interesting but then I couldn't quite see what they had to do with the main story at one point, and the ominous letters from her Nan where a nice touch to add a sense of creepiness. Her father I quite liked at the beginning, he was oddly supportive but I reached a point when I was getting really bad vibes from him. Like you know when you can sense something is wrong, but you can't quite put your finger on what? 

Io's POV was interesting and shed Nell and her relationships in a different light. For me, the ending of the book was when things really picked up and everything started happening at once, with these huge reveals and twists but it just took so long for everything to get started and for Nell to even have her idea to build Io. The pace was just too slow and heavy going for me and I honestly was going to put the book down, but I know a lot of people where raving about it, so I sped read until things picked up, I have to admit. So it's possible I missed some things but overall this book was just okay for me. 

Manga: Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash 3

Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash Volume 3
Rating: 3/5 
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

Eager for a new challenge, Haruhiro's party descends into the Cyrene Mines. However, as they go deeper, Mary is forced to face the ghosts of her past...in more ways than one!

Yep you read that right, the group are heading in to the mines where all of Mary's party members died. I think we all know this isn't going to end well. Things get pretty tense with Ranta as he makes some questionable moves, and Haruhiro's in a crisis about being a leader so....kind of not the right mentality for facing a super dangerous mine. 

Despite Ranta's idiotic behaviour throughout a large part of this volume, the group does become closer and we get to know Ranta himself better, and why he does what he does, so it was nice to see them all come together, and while I still think Ranta's an idiot....I do understand him and his decisions. 

The group actually looks pretty strong as we come to the end of the volume, having grown closer, and gotten an understanding for each other. Mary's dealt with her past and Haruhiro has a new resolve...finally. I really do want to smack him one sometimes you guys! But the group really bands together and starts to finally look like and come across like a team! The volume has a nice amount of action to keep you occupied, as well as the interesting look at characters. I did like the tension in this volume too as the group where creeping through the mine, and thanks to the first volume, I never assume everything's going to end well! 

Review: The Extinction Trials

The Extinction Trials
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

In Stormchaser and Lincoln's ruined world, the only way to survive is to risk everything. To face a contest more dangerous than anyone can imagine. And they will do ANYTHING to win. But in a land full of monsters - both human and reptilian - they can't afford to trust anyone. Perhaps not even each other...

I freaking love dinosaurs, Jurassic Park is one of my favourite films and I loved Primeval when it was airing, so I had to pick this up because you know...dinosaurs! The start was incredibly intriguing like...hello Plesiosaur! There's also intriguing tidbits of the world scattered throughout that makes you want to know more and our MC has a secret of her own that you're itching to find out! 

The Extinction Trials is basically a voluntary Hunger Games to see who's going to make the cut to get to go and rile up the dinosaurs by partaking in a spot of light egg-napping. Unfortunately everything they've been told doesn't add up and it turns out the dinosaurs are quite intelligent. This is certainly an original read! 

I loved our MC Storm, she's intelligent and determined and she's asking all the right questions. I was fully on her side and I was rooting for her throughout. Our other MC Lincoln, I was less sure of. He's certainly determined and I got where he was coming from and what his motivation was, but I still didn't entirely trust him in the beginning, then he kind of lulled me in to a false sense of security, before I ended up actually saying "Don't be messing with Storm bruh" because I knew he was ultimately going to do something shady. 

That being said, there's plenty of characters who are far shadier than Lincoln for less noble reasons. One of them got what was coming to him but he was really just there to be a complete a-hole and then get his just desserts. There was plenty of tension thanks to all the shady characters, and I was never entirely sure who to trust. 

I really enjoyed the growing bond between Storm, Leif and Lincoln, but like I said...I didn't trust Lincoln, and I had such a bad feeling about what he was going to do. There's plenty of twists and the betrayal at the end I kind of saw coming..but I didn't see how exactly it was going to play out. It was kind of sad to see the three people you where rooting for and who had bonded and worked so well together basically toss each other under the bus. To be fair, Storm did help out Leif and Leif returned the favour. I knew what Storm was going to do, but the conclusion certainly had me on the edge of my seat. 

I'm not entirely sure I ship Storm and Lincoln because while she opened up and trusted him and told him things, he still kept everything to himself and kept things close and didn't really return the favour, I think I need to see more of them to decide! I'm hoping we'll get more of Leif though! 

The Extinction Trials is fast paced and set in an interesting world that had me endlessly curious. It all seems a bit shady and I was fully in agreement with Storm about how off it all seemed, especially when it came to the people in charge and then on Pleiora it was all kind of confirmed and just had me like...okay...they're going to be endlessly idiotic and destroy things, you better sort them out Storm! There where so many surprises and I'm intrigued to see what's going to happen next, what'll happen to the dinosaurs? What' the deal with Reban? I think I know, there where a couple of mildly predictable things but then I wouldn't be surprised if they got twisted too! 

All in all the Extinction Trials is an original and exciting read, and it's certainly a wild ride. There's plenty of tension and it really has you on the edge of your seat...and kind of riding an adrenalin high too when the characters pull things off! The world was nicely described, and certain things where....grimly vivid too! I wasn't expecting quite so much to be packed in and covered in this book so I'm intrigued to see how things will continue and where the story will go from here! 

Manga: Sword Oratoria Vol 2

Sword Oratoria Vol 2
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

The peerless Sword Princess can't seem to forget the sight of a young boy running away from her. Watching his receding back brings up memories from her own past and she begins to question her sole ideal of devoting everything to become stronger. For the first time ever, is Aiz is a bit troubled by her heart like any normal young girl?? 

Is it wrong of me to say that I'm enjoying Sword Oratoria more than I am the main series? The main series has had a few volumes where nothing much has happened to be honest, but so far Sword Oratoria has been action packed for each volume and I'm loving it! 

As we rejoin Aiz and co, the quest is over and Loki Familia have to sell all their drop items before they head out to celebrate...unfortunately it turns sour thanks to Bete and THAT incident happens. You know...the one where Bell overhears something and gets upset and runs away. Yep. That happens. It's interesting to see it from another perspective, because when you see it from Bell's POV you kind of think one way about the characters, but seeing it from Aiz's you see them in a new light. 

Aiz is kind of struggling with her feelings and dreams of the past, and the others are determined to cheer her up...which means a girls day shopping! Plus Monsterphilia is approaching and of course...something goes wrong. *cue ominous music* 

The art for this series is completely gorgeous, and I really loved how Lefiya's magic and magic circles where drawn in this volume, as well as the backgrounds. I know it's an odd thing for me to focus on, but so often the backgrounds are just kind of...there, it's nice to see backgrounds that have had effort put in to them, and are nicely detailed! 

There's plenty of action to go with the humour this volume, and the Gods...or at least two of them, are definitely up to no good and there's a sense of something shady at the end...but what? I have so many questions and there's so many little plot threads throughout, it's another excellent volume!