Review: The Fire Sermon (The Fire Sermon #1) by Francesca Haig

Intricate world building and complex characters

Title: The Fire Sermon
Series: The Fire Sermon
Author: Francesca Haig
Publisher: HarperVoyager, UK
My ratings: 3 out of 5 stars
Releases: 23rd February, 2015
T he Fire Sermon was one of my most highly anticipated books of early 2015. With the promotions running high I could not get my hands on this bad boy quickly enough. Alas, my relationship with this book turned out to be more complicated than I expected.

The premise is quite interesting. In a post apocalyptic world children are born as twins. One twin is unmarred and is called the Alpha while the other twin almost always has a physical disability marking them as the Omega. Now the Alphas blame all their misfortunes on these Omegas and they are ostracised and condemned. They would be eliminated but for the fact that if an Omega is hurt the Alpha feels it too. Zach and Cass twins but in their case, Cass is an anomaly. She is an omega without any surface marking but with a power to see slices of the future. This is the story about her.

I loved the way it started. The relationship between Zach and Cass was so complex, heart breaking and intense. While they loved each other the resent for the other was on the surface and sooner rather than later it emerges. Cass’ early life and her eventual imprisonment was interesting and set up for a riveting read. But then Cass escapes and pick up another Omega, Kip. Together they make their journey to the promised land of the Island, a last haven for the Omega. This is where things go down hill. While I enjoyed the growing relationship between Kip and Cass, it was mind numbingly slow. The whole journey was daunting but pointless. I’m not going to go into details but things don’t pick up until Piper appears.

However this reprieve does not last and before we know it the story slows down again. While I appreciate the world building the plotting was slow and failed to capture my interest. I put this book down several times and had to force myself to complete it months later.

Saying the above, the action picks up again toward the end. The last few pages were filled with revelations which shocked me and made me sit up and take notice. The ending was left open and after the shocking events I am keen to see where the story will go now.

To sum it up, The Fire Sermon may not be for everyone. It was a slow burning type of book, with intricate world building and fascinating lore appealing to a more mature fantasy fan base.

Review copy provided by HarperVoyager, UK

Review: Under My Skin by James Dawson

James Dawson proves again why is a heavy weight in UKYA

Title: Under My Skin
Author: James Dawson
Publisher: Hot Key books, UK
My ratings: 4 out of 5 stars
Released: 5th March, 2015
While I have heard a lot about James Dawson, I haven’t read any fiction he has written before. Hence when given a chance to read Under My Skin about a haunted tattoo, I pounced on it.

Before I get down to the review, let me tell how beautiful the actual book was. With sprayed bright pick edges and filled with various tattoo inside and outside, it had a running theme throughout the book and it gave a clear picture what Molly Sue looked like.

The story is about Sally Feather, a shy, introverted girl who is bullied at school. With old fashioned parents and only a few friends she somehow gets tricked into getting a tattoo of Molly Sue. The tattoo make her feel rebellious and powerful but then it starts talking. That’s right. Her tattoo starts talking and moving around.

Sally Feather was a well written protagonist whom readers will be able to relate to instantly. Sally’s parents are conservative and Sally feels they don’t understand her. Her only life-line are her childhood friends. I loved how getting Molly Sue, Sally grows as a character. At the beginning when she is awkward, shy and a pushover by the end of this book she gains confidence and a personality.

My copy. (via my Instagram Account)

My favourite thing about this book was Molly sue. My feelings were so conflicted about her. I loved what she did for Sally, helping her gain confidence and standing up for herself. She was the little jolt of energy that Sally needed. Molly Sue helps her navigate the dangerous waters of high school and achieve whatever Sally wanted. However this is where the twist is, that Molly Sue was out of control. She takes things to another level. She was willing to go to any length to get what she wanted. Soon she was taking over Sally’s body and committing crimes which were being blamed on Sally.

I really enjoyed the sassy and mouthy Molly Sue even if she was evil. The whole thing was creepy and edgy. The concept of a haunted tattoo which spoke, moved and took over your body will stay in my psyche for a long time and I don’t think I’m ever getting a tattoo. I loved how diverse this story was and how concepts like feminism and homosexuality were addressed.

Overall, I really enjoyed my first foray into James Dawson’s fiction. Under My skin was beautiful, poignant, creepy and eerie. With a dash of romance, friendship and family, Under My Skin was highly entertaining and has convinced me why James Dawson is such a heavy weight when it comes to UKYA.

Review copy received from Hot Key Books, UK

 

Review: There Will Be Lies by Nick Lane

An adventure and a journey in more ways than one

Title: There Will Be Lies
Author: Nick Lane
Publisher: Bloomsbury, UK
My ratings: 3 out of 5 stars
Released: 6th January, 2015
Nick Lane's There Will be Lies is one of those books that left me conflicted in more ways than one. The best way to get into this book is going in with as little knowledge about the book as possible. It can be enjoyed most when you don't know when the next page will hit you like a train.

It starts with Shelby narrating about her life and how she lives with her mother and has been home school. But before she knows it her whole life gets turned around and she finds her self on the road with her mother and before her journey ends her life starts unraveling.

First of all I have to give credit to Nick Lane he managed to keep my interest up until the very end. I enjoyed the way this book was written and there were two stories running simultaneously and were being flipped between each other. This helped chase the occasional monotone of a story stuck in one place. I also enjoyed how Nick Lane wrote pieces of literature which were profound and yet simple. The narration was spot on and everything was kept in wraps and as each lie was brought in and then shattered to reveal a nugget of truth.

Shelby was a great protagonist. I loved her strength, resilience and and sass even when facing situation which would have broken any regular person.

However I would have enjoyed it even more if there was some more romance in the story. It was hinted at towards the beginning but it never took off from there. Lastly, I wish there was an explanation as to what was the Otherworld? It ended with a bang but an explanation would have been cherry on the cake.

There Will Be Lies was not what I expected it to be. It is not a genre that I read often but it kept me entertained and engrossed with Shelby and her various troubles. It was an adventure and a journey in more ways than one and how selfishness can sometimes lead to love and forgiveness.

Published on the 6th of January, 2015 by Bloomsbury, 2015.

Bristish Book Challenge 2015 Sign Up

Hello Escapists! Today I am going to introduce you to a wonderful book challenge that I have been eyeing for a few years but due to one reason or another, could never sign up and start it. It is called The British Book Challenge 2015 and it has been going strong since 2011. Every year it is hosted by one of the amazing British Book Bloggers and this year this honour goes to Michelle at Fluttering Butterflies.

The challenge is simple. Read as many book by British authors as possible. How many you take up is entirely up to you. This challenge addresses two topics which are close to my heart namely supporting the British Publishers and also supporting more British Authors and books. With the book market flooding with authors from around the world, I think it is important that we support local authors and publishers. And I also get to make entries in a monthly prize draw. 

The books also don’t have to be new but old ones also count. This mean I have an excuse to pick through my impressive back log of tittles from time to time.

At this very moment I don’t have a lot of books in mind but I would be picking up as I go along as they can be advanced proof copies or even an odd old book. For more information on signing up, rules and FAQs visit Fluttering Butterflies.

Here is a small list I have compiled so far.

1. The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon
2. Masquerade by Laura Lam
3. The Vanishing Throne by Elizabeth May
4. The Night Itself by Zoe Marriott
5. Darkness Hidden by Zoe Marriott
6. Frail Mortal Heart by Zoe Marriott

These are only a  few books that I have in mind but the list is subject to change as I carry on reading more and if my proof copies get the better of me.

Once again, I am so pleased to have been lucky enough to post this challenge on time and being able to sign up in time. Thank you Michelle.