Review: Going Viral

The Potion Diaries: Going Viral 
Rating: 5/5
Buy or borrow: Buy!
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

Having managed to find her great-grandmother's potion diary, escape Emilia Thoth, save her grandfather's memories AND become a Master Alchemist, surely it's time for Sam to have a good, long rest? And maybe, just maybe, a date with her boyfriend Zain?

But now that Evelyn is married and showing symptoms of the Gergon illness, it looks as though Sam's adventures are just beginning... 

I love this trilogy, it's fun, it's original, the MC is determined and ambitious and easy to root for. This trilogy is my little pick me up when I'm feeling crappy, it brightens my day and always puts a smile on my face. Except for the time I found out that this was the final book and it was actually only a trilogy and not a series....I actually got quite distressed about that, I'm not going to lie! But this is a fantastic ending to the trilogy and I'll forever lowkey hope for another book...or two.... 

Going Viral has a rather sinister opening with Evelyn and the ever creepy Stefan. I really do not like him, although he manages to redeem himself a little bit in this book. He's such a shady character though. Evie's POV's are pretty sinister for the most part during this book, but as she goes on her own journey, she gets more and more determined and the POV's go from sinister happenings to badass girl power team ups. Evie really brings people together and shows what a fantastic ruler she'll be. Thanks to Evie we get some blanks filled in on when it comes to her and what happened after she parted from Sam in Royal Tour. Evie's just as determined as Sam, and she spends the book pulling herself...and everyone else together, and getting to the bottom of things. 

As I started to read, I was like....it's happening. It's finally happening. Sam and Zain are going on an actual date...REMAIN CALM. I will never forgive Stefan for ruining it. But you know...my joy quickly turned to AAAAAAAHHHH because cue the first fight. My ship was a bit rocky this book, I should have seen it coming because it had been smooth sailing (sorry, I love a ship pun) for the entire second book and some tension was to be expected.

That's right. Relationship issues folks, be prepared. Don't get me wrong, it's realistic and authentic and everything, but like...this is the last book and I was freaking out a little bit like..IT'S ALL GOING TO BE FINE BY THE END RIGHT?! RIIIIGHT?! So prepare for a lack of Zain. This book features Sam getting things done, striking out with her friends to save the world. I do like the fact that Alward took this approach, made it clear that Sam can do this huge thing without Zain, that while she may love him, she doesn't need him to be a badass mixer. She can do it. She doesn't need him propping her up. Like so many books end up with the female MC needing the guy to do the thing, or needing the guy to hold her hand while she does the thing. So while I do love Sam and Zain, it was refreshing to see Sam teaming up with her friends, and striking out to do the thing. I have to keep saying 'the thing' because spoilers. But I was like GIRL POWER BITCHES. 

We FINALLY get to meet Katrina properly in this book too and I loved it! She's brilliant and I loved her teaming up with Sam, the two ordinary girls saving the world without any Talent. I was cheering a lot, I'm not going to lie. We also get to meet the Gergon royal family. I never did quite decide if I liked Illie. There's a nice dose of Anita and Arjun, who where with Sam back at the beginning of the first book. I love the friendship between the three of them and how they came to help Sam and they all did it together. 

Interestingly we get to learn more about Sam's background and where she's from as we visit more of the world of the book. There's some brilliant history and mythology in this book, and the story continuation is perfectly done. Some threads from the first two books weave in to the plot of this book and everything comes together perfectly. 

Going Viral continues, and brings to a close, the story perfectly. There's more mythology, more of the world, more of who Sam is and more character growth. The thing with my ship hit me right in the feels at the end, and even mildly distressed me...but it still ends fantastically. I can't imagine a more perfect ending for The Potion Diaries or for Sam. It fits with Sam and with the message Alward is sending out with these books. Sam's such an inspiring character with her ambition and her relatable nerdiness, and Alward shows you with these books that if you're determined, you can do whatever you want to do no matter what. 

Going Viral has drama and tension and it goes right to the wire, it's just as much of a wild ride as the previous two books, and the last line was just perfection. I should also mention that Sam and Arjun participate in a bit of extreme Pokemon Go! I'm so sad to see this trilogy end, but there's always re-reads! 

Review: Royal Tour

Royal Tour 
Rating: 5/5 
Buy or Borrow: Buy 
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

Having saved Princess Evelyn (and become her new BFF) Sam must accompany Evelyn on a world tour, so she can keep the princess (and everyone around her) safe with a power-binding potion. But Sam also has another reason to scour the globe. Someone has tampered with her grandad's mind, and Sam is the only one who can unlock his memories to save him and the family business. And that's not all that's at stake. The stolen memories contain the recipe to a potion which many would kill to get hold of. With the post powerful people in the world desperate for the recipe, Sam must save her grandad in order to save everyone else... 

I read The Potion Diaries last year and I completely loved it, it was exactly what I needed, light, funny and cute, and it left me wanting more! I've been so excited for this book, and to see what happens to the characters next and I can't even with how the book ended but more on that later! Royal Tour picks up not long after The Potion Diaries, and there's everything you loved from the first book...and more! 

Alward gives us an original and fun world that's incredibly vivid, there's modern touches like phones and tablets, but there's also old school potion makers, princesses and castles and most importantly...magic. It's a nice combination of the two, and it's a world I'm happy to get lost in! In this book, we get to see more of that world and I was so excited, I was so curious about other parts of the world mentioned in the first book, and in this book and the author lets us see so much more...yet I still want more. Because I'm a glutton for bookish worlds. But whatever! I loved getting to explore more of the world of the book, and see more of the creatures occupying it! One of the things I love about these books are that they're imaginative and give your own imagination a workout, with all the different creatures, and magic, and other touches! 

One of the things I enjoyed about the book was Evie. I was expecting her to be the usual Princess type, and basically not a very nice person, so I loved to be wrong and I loved how she became BFF's with Sam. She was an incredibly good friend in this book and went to such lengths to  help her, I loved seeing the two together! Anita and Arjun are back, and damn I so needed more of them! I kinda felt for Anita because her friend suddenly has a boyfriend and a new friend and we didn't see as much of them as I'd have liked, but they where there for Sam when she needed them! One of my favourite characters from the first book is also back, Kirsty! I loved her in the first book but in this book I kinda wanted to smack her one because of all the damage she caused! But she was on top of things and right in there with Sam when she needed her! 

I love, completely love, Sam and Zain. Sam's so determined and intelligent and I always feel for her because she's constantly trying to help and do the right thing and having to keep it from her family. Zain's the perfect match for her, I have to say, he's always willing to help her with whatever she needs. They're totally adorable together, I've been so excited to see more of them, they bring the cute and the warm and fuzzies, I'm not going to lie! Although I was internally screaming at Sam at one point because C'MON IT WAS SO OBVIOUS. But that's spoiler territory so we'll walk away from that now! Sometimes in sequels, you end up with the male MC being a douche, but I loved that Zain only has eyes for Sam, and he's protective of her and loyal to her. THEY'RE JUST SO CUTE. 

I basically read most of this in one go, staying up really late, because I only meant to read a chapter or two but I couldn't stop reading. I got sucked in really badly! The narrative is brilliant, with forum posts to break it up and impart little tidbits. It's fast paced, fun and full of magic and adventure, and it really is a brilliant read. It's perfect for when you need a pick me up, or just need a read that's going to hit  you with the warm and fuzzies. It delivers on multiple fronts and there's never a dull moment. We get new characters, old characters, and new parts of the world to explore! Not to mention a mystery from the first book is solved, just as a new one arises. And that ending. I thought things where going too well, and that someone was unaccounted for. I shouldn't have been surprised, but Alward always manages to surprise you in these books with her twists. So when I read the ending I was staring at the book like 'EXCUSE ME?!' God damn. I genuinely cannot even, and now I have to wait an entire year to find out what happens next! TORTURE! IT'S TORTURE I TELL YOU! 

Wishing For Wednesday #94

Hey guys! 
I've been so lax with my WFW posts....oops? I kept forgetting because I've been really busy and usually I schedule them ahead but I've been a complete fail lately I know!
This week I have two sequels for you that I'm really excited for! I completely loved the first books and I've been eagerly awaiting these two books! 
First up is the sequel to a book that just...blew me away. Ancient Egypt...romance....ugh it was perfect, and I'm so excited to see what happens to the characters next! 
Second, the sequel to a book that was fun, and full of magic and just completely adorable romance! I've been missing the characters a lot, not going to lie and I'm so excited for this next installment!  

Recreated

Lily Young thought traveling across the globe with a reawakened sun prince was a grand adventure. Now she’s about to embark on the journey of a lifetime.

When Amon and Lily part tragically, he transports himself to the Netherworld—what mortals call hell. Tormented by the loss of his one true love, he’d rather suffer in agony during Lily’s mortal years than fulfill his duty to protect humanity.

Heartbroken, Lily seeks refuge on her grandmother’s farm. Yet she can feel Amon’s pain, and she has been having dreams—dreams of Amon continually suffering.

For before he departed, Amon gave Lily something very special, an item that connects them even though they are worlds apart. Now Lily must use this object to free him, and to free their realms from darkness and utter chaos. She will do whatever it takes.

Reawakened is out August 11th, pre-order your copy....here! 
Add it to your TBR....here! 

Royal Tour

Stolen memories, a lost diary and a race against time...

Having saved Princess Evelyn (and become her new BFF) Sam must accompany Evelyn on a world tour, so she can keep the princess (and everyone around her) safe with a power-binding potion. But Sam also has another reason to scour the globe. Someone has tampered with her grandad's mind, and Sam is the only one who can unlock his memories to save him and the family business. And that's not all that's at stake. The stolen memories contain the recipe to a potion which many would kill to get hold of. With the post powerful people in the world desperate for the recipe, Sam must save her grandad in order to save everyone else... 

Royal Tour is out August 11th, pre-order your copy....here! 

Add it to your TBR...here! 

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Friday Meme Day!

Okay, so this is incredibly late. Apologies. My neighbours kept me awake until 5am and as much as I tried to force myself awake after like 4 hours sleep, it wasn't happening, so I ended up sleeping in until like 12 and then I had other bits and pieces to do and yeah. 
So, I haven't done any Friday Meme's before, but I'm trying to break up the reviews, particularly as it's all kindle books left and it's a backlog and it can be boring. 
I've found a couple of really interesting Memes and seeing as they're kind of small, which is cool! I thought I'd do them all on one post! So here we go! 

My Book Beginning

"A tiny bead of blood bloomed where the knifepoint pressed against the tip of her finger.

She held it over the rim of a glass vial and watched as the droplet fell, turning the liquid in the bottom from pink to a dark, inky blue." 

The Potion Diaries by Amy Alward 

Okay so I should probably point out that there's two smaller sentences and then boom that's it, the entire first chapter! Which I actually think is a brilliant way to start a book, I mean a small chapter with an opening sentence (or two) like that instantly hooks you in and has you interested in what's going on and what's going to happen next. I'm currently reading this book in order to review it for Maximum Pop and everything so I'll definitely be mentioning that! 

So, (I really need to stop starting so many sentences with so) this weeks question iiiissss.....

Do you listen to audio books? 

I can't say that I do to be honest, in fact I don't think that I ever have. I don't really know why either! I suppose I'm not really very good at just sitting and doing nothing while I listen and if I were occupied while trying to listen I'd not be paying attention! I prefer to hold a book and be completely focused and occupied on it. That made no sense but there we go. I also don't really understand how people can listen to audio books while they work out, I mean, I wish I could but it has to be music for me, I did try to watch Netflix while doing a workout once. My bruise from lack of attention was quite spectacular. Perhaps I should give an audio book a go!