THEN SHE WAS GONE by Lisa Jewell

“‘She was fifteen, her mother's golden girl. She had her whole life ahead of her. And then, in the blink of an eye, Ellie was gone.’ Ten years on, Laurel has never given up hope of finding Ellie. And then she meets a charming and charismatic stranger who sweeps her off her feet. But what really takes her breath away is when she meets his nine-year-old daughter. Because his daughter is the image of Ellie. Now all those unanswered questions that have haunted Laurel come flooding back. ‘What really happened to Ellie? And who still has secrets to hide?’”

What is the book about?

Ten years ago fifteen-year-old Ellie Mack left her house to go to the library and never came home. She had her whole life ahead of her, was about to do her GCSEs, was predicted the highest grades, and within moments she was gone and no one knows what happened to her. Since her disappearance, her mother Laurel has never given up on finding Ellie, however everyone else appears to have completely forgotten about it and have moved on with their lives. Since that moment, Laurel changed and lost the life she had and the things that made her happy no longer had any effect. However, one day, she unexpectedly meets a charming, charismatic man who appears to be perfect in every way and he slowly starts to bring happiness back into Laurel's life. However, when she meets his nine-year-old daughter, she starts to once again ask the questions that haunted her since Ellie left and never came home. Because his daughter is the spitting image of Ellie when she was that age. Something clearly happened that night when Ellie disappeared and all the unanswered questions come flooding back. What happened to Ellie? And what does this young girl who looks just like her have to do with her disappearance? Who still has secrets to hide and what do they have to do with that fateful day 10 years ago?

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

I had never heard of Then She Was Gone or even the author, Lisa Jewell, until my only reader friend (which is who I always get new book recommendations from) sent me a book list of suggestions of what I could get her for Christmas and Lisa Jewell’s The Family Upstairs was on it. In order to decide which book to get her I did what I usually do, which is to search all the books up and pick the one that I like best for myself (as I know I will be able to borrow it from her rather than buy it again), so I read the blurb of this other book by the same author as Then She Was Gone and was immediately in love. As a result, I spent around an hour searching through Amazon and adding all the books I could find by Lisa Jewell and then I put them all on my own list for Christmas and the one I got was Then She Was Gone. The blurb left me completely shocked with more questions than I ever thought were possible and even a few theories that I had started puzzling out before even opening the book. Once I opened the book I completely forgot I was reading and within what felt like seconds I had finished the book in tears. I had known from the second I read the blurb that this book was going to be one of the best mysteries I had ever read and I have never found that my initial thoughts have been more right than they were for this book. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character was definitely Ellie because of how she dealt with what happened to her and how much I feel for her and everything she lost. I can’t really explain much because I don’t want to ruin the whole mystery but what Ellie went through was something that no one should ever have to experience, let alone a fifteen-year-old girl. However, despite the fact that she had gone through all of that she never lost the qualities that had made her the golden girl, the perfect daughter, the one who brought light into her family’s lives. Through the flashbacks to her experience, I got to read Ellie’s thoughts and she barely thought about losing hope and never gave up and became depressed as one would in her situation. She stayed strong, brave and brilliant (which was made clear in the epilogue, which made me cry so much) and she thought of her family and how much she loved them every moment of the day. Ellie’s attitude was admirable and it was only made more impressive when I thought of everything she lost because of what happened. She had had her whole life ahead of her and I know that she would have had the most promising future ever, but she didn’t get any of that and that completely breaks my heart. I cannot imagine what it would be like to be in that situation and though I hope that nothing like that ever happens to me but I would like to believe that I would be strong enough to be like Ellie and not lose myself in the process. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part of the book was 100% the ending because it was the most beautiful ending in the world. The story and everything that Ellie and Laurel and everyone else went through was completely devastating, however the ending helped make everything beautiful again. The main part of the book follows Laurel and how much her life was completely changed when her youngest daughter disappeared. Her family was pulled apart because of the tragedy that happened to them and as a result they lost any connection they used to have. The book follows Laurel as she tried to put her family back together and prevent them from losing complete contact with each other. In the end all she needed to do was uncover the mystery and stop punishing herself and her family for what happened to Ellie. The book ending shows a complete circle where Laurel finds herself in the same position she was before the tragic day when her daughter never came home and the beauty of it is that the family found themselves reunited because of Ellie once again. I love when books are circular and every piece makes sense once again. This book was absolutely incredible and I can’t wait to read another one by this author.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, Then She Was Gone was the most heart-breaking and devastating yet completely amazing book I have ever read and there was absolutely nothing that I would change about it. One of the things that I really loved about the book were the flashbacks to Ellie’s life after the disappearance and also another person’s life at that time as well (if you read the book you will understand why I can’t tell you their name). While we were being told Laurel’s story and trying to help her solve the mystery of her daughter’s disappearance, we also heard from these characters’ points of view which helped tell the story of what happened to Ellie. These flashbacks really helped because in reality only person knew the truth about what had happened and that person wasn’t present in Laurel’s story so without having these flashbacks I would never have known the truth. I also really loved them because flashbacks are something that I always enjoy because of the little glimpses to the past that they give you and the deeper understanding they help you develop. Another thing that I enjoyed about the book was the story and the writing in general. This story was one of the most shocking, heart-breaking and disturbing stories I have ever read and there was a strong chance of everything going wrong with the book and it being too devastating and dark to be able to be read. However, Lisa Jewell used some incredible writing to turn this dark story into a masterpiece that left me in tears every few chapters and left me wanting to go back in time just so that I could read the story once again for the first time. I cried so much reading this book and felt so much for these characters and their tragic story. This book did its job – it made me feel something – and I will never forget reading it. One last thing I would like to mention that I really liked about the book was the way that I was slowly able to piece the mystery together. Before I had even started reading I had a general theory and overall I was sort of right, however as the book moved along I was able to adapt my theory. It was a slow-burn mystery that was uncovered piece by piece and each time a new piece of information came to light I adapted my theory and had a clear idea in my mind of what I knew to be true and the possibilities of what could have happened afterwards. In the end I knew the whole story and was shocked by it but the gradual understanding made the book even more interesting and impossible to put down. This is a story that will haunt me forever and I will never stop recommending because this experience is one which I believe everyone needs to experience at least once in their life. Then She Was Gone was one of the most amazing books I have ever read and as soon as I finished reading it I went and bought every other book by Lisa Jewell that I could get my hands on and I can’t wait to have my heart crushed once again. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I would 10000000% recommend you go and read this book right this very second as it is a completely incredible novel filled with suspense and mystery. It is devastating, dark and amazingly well-written and I know that anyone who picks it up won't be able to put it down. However, I think it's best for those over 17 as there is some strong language, violence and it can be deeply disturbing.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A dark, devastating and disturbing thriller that will leave you in tears and completely shocked.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES by Suzanne Collins

“‘Ambition will fuel him. Competition will drive him. But power has its price.’ It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capitol, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmanoeuvre his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute. The odds are against him. He’s been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined – every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the area it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute…and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.”

What is the book about?

After the districts rebelled against the Capitol and lost the war, the Capitol started the Hunger Games, an annual competition where a boy and a girl between the ages of 12 and 18 picked at random from each of the 12 districts would fight to the death in an arena until a sole victor remained. However, the Hunger Games is not having the impact the creators were expecting and in order to increase the interests of the public each tribute in the tenth Hunger Games will have a mentor, who will be one of the top students from the Academy. Coriolanus Snow is one of the mentors and his only goal is to do everything in his power to beat the other 23 mentors and end up with the winning tribute because, since the war left his family with nothing, he has no other way to get the money he needs to go to university and make a name for himself, possibly even become the president. However, when he is given the most humiliating position as the mentor for the female tribute from District 12, he believes there is no hope for him until he finally sees the girl on screen and realises that Lucy Gray Baird may still win him a money prize. Their fates are now intertwined – every choice Coriolanus makes outside the arena will determine Lucy Gray’s chance of survival and his own academic future and every move Lucy Gray makes inside the area could lead to her own death and determine Coriolanus’s chance at a real future. Coriolanus must do everything he can to help himself and his tribute, but how far is he willing to go to win and is he willing to give up his integrity and need to follow the rules in order to do so?

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

I honestly had completely forgotten I had bought the book and had it on my kindle for at least a couple of years and I think it would have remained unread for another couple of years if I hadn’t had seen it on my friend’s bookshelf and been reminded of the fact that I still hadn’t read it. This still wasn’t enough to get me to read it as I got home and once again forgot about it, but when I found out the movie was in cinemas I was desperate to start reading it so I could watch the movie (as there is no way I ever watch a movie before reading the book). Once I made up my mind that I would read the book I was so excited to start reading it as I had loved reading the Hunger Games trilogy and was so excited to read the prequel and find out what led President Snow to become the tyrant leader Katniss was determined to destroy. Reading the blurb only fuelled my interest in the book as I grew even more intrigued by the development Hunger Games and the mentoring by students that I hadn’t seen in the original trilogy. However, when I started to read I found The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was not nearly as interesting and well-written as the main series books were, which may be due to the 10 year gap between the publication of this prequel and Mockingjay (the third and final book in the trilogy) and also the trilogy was in the first person (in Katniss’s point of view) and the prequel is written in the third person, making it more difficult to really understand Coriolanus and really get involved in the story as it felt less personal and more like watching from the side-lines. But, after the first several chapters, when there started to be more violent and dramatic events taking place in the book, things started to get more interesting and the book as easier to read. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character would probably have to be Sejanus because of how much I admired his actions. He certainly wasn’t perfect and a lot of the time I thought he was a gullible idiot who didn’t know what he wasn’t doing. His actions destroyed his future and the whole time he thought that Snow was his best friend, he was really alone. However, despite these flaws (which were really just things that we are all guilty of doing from time to time) he was really brave and was willing to stand up to the Capitol when no one else would. He did and said things that no one else would ever even think of doing and definitely not for the reasons he did it. He never wanted anything more than to get them to stop torturing the districts and to get to go back home to District Two and the fact that he never got to do that broke my heart. I admired him throughout the whole book and will always hate Snow for not seeing how much Sejanus needed him and how much he needed Sejanus. If he had never done what he did to Sejanus maybe he would have seen that some things are more important than power and money, however he never trusted Sejanus who only ever wanted to help and that was his biggest mistake. Sejanus was the first person to speak his mind to the people in charge of the Hunger Games and he never even though about the repercussions because he just wanted them to know what they were doing was monstrous and because of that I will always admire him and his courage. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

I didn’t really have a favourite part of the book as the whole book kind of blurred into one and wasn’t the easiest thing to read. But I will say (mainly to fill in this space) that I did like a lot of the parts where Sejanus did something stupid and rebellious because it showed me that not everyone living in the Capitol was corrupt, only thinking about power and how to get more money. I always thought about how idiotic it was for him to do some of the things he did because, if the Capitol was willing to kill 24 innocent children every year, they wouldn’t even blink an eye at ordering him to be killed for his rebel sympathising acts. However I also admired him deeply because he was willing to do what no one else would, to speak out when no one else would and to show these people that what they were doing was wrong. They may not have listened to him and it may have taken them another 65 years to change but things will never change unless we let people know we aren’t happy with them as they are and are willing to do something about it, which is what Sejanus was willing to do. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, I found that the book was a bit of a disappointment and wasn’t nearly as good as I was expecting, however it was still rather interesting and I enjoyed learning more about Snow and how he became the villain of the trilogy. One thing I enjoyed about the book was the fact that I got to read about Snow’s story and learn how he ended up becoming the tyrannical president Katniss was so intent on defying in the trilogy. He was truly evil – I read the books and there is no point trying to argue in his defence – however, evil is made not born and I was always interested in finding out Snow’s story and discovering why he because the psychotic man I was familiar with. Reading The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes helped me understand him a bit and how his fear of becoming insignificant and not living up to the Snow family name led him to believe that the only way out was to betray those closest to him. He went crazy for power, which can happen to any one of us, and he let that ambition drive him away from the love, friendship, loyalty and integrity he had been so proud of at the start of the book. He was just 18 – barely an adult – and yet he was expected to do so much and he let himself become corrupt and as a result he lost everything that made him good. I loved seeing this and, though I may feel sorry for the guy, I know that what he did can never be forgiven. Another thing that I liked about this book was seeing the development of the Hunger Games. I found it so interesting that the extravagant spectacle that I had read about in the trilogy and saw on the TV through the movies started out as 24 tributes fighting for their lives in a dirty, collapsed arena in the Capitol, barely being fed and not being treated as well as Katniss and Peeta were for their games. Right at the end of the book you see how Snow was the one to propose several of the changes to the games that we saw in the other books, such as Victor’s Village, the series of grand houses saved for the victors and their families. The fact that someone so young could suggest something to make people more willing to be involved in the killing of young children is just shocking and when I found out that the Hunger Games were initially suggested (not really intentionally)  by another young man horrified me. It was so intriguing and disgusting to see young people willingly suggesting ways to torture children just because they come from the districts who rebelled many years before. Although all of this was very interesting and I did like this information, I didn’t think the book lived up to my expectations. I loved reading The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay and found them so easy to read and I had been expecting the same for the prequel however it took me far too long to get into the book and I never fully did because it was nowhere near as good as I thought it would have been. Maybe it was the years between the books, or the change in perspective or the new characters but I was very disappointed in Suzanne Collins writing and really expected more from her. It felt like the book really dragged on (which it kind of did as it was rather long), however I do understand that there was a lot that needed to be covered, though it could have been done in a more interesting manner. The writing could have been much better, however I did like learning about Snow and I know that if I got a chance to go back in time and pick up the book for the first time again I would probably make the same decision (though I definitely won’t be reading the book a second time).

Would you recommend this book?  

If you enjoyed reading the Hunger Games trilogy, I definitely recommend reading The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes as it is a good book that gives you a detailed addition to the events that led to Katniss winning the 74th Hunger Games and leading the rebellion. However, on its own it isn’t the best book and, although I think anyone over 14 who loves dystopian fiction, action and adventure will enjoy it, I wouldn’t recommend reading it unless you are willing to stick through the more difficult moments. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

An interesting addition to the world of Panem and the Hunger Games, full of love, friendship and betrayal, 64 years before the events of The Hunger Games. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

CURSED CROWNS by Catherine Doyle & Katherine Webber

“‘Two queens. One curse.’ Twin queens Rose and Wren sit together on the throne of Eana. But as Rose plans a Royal Tour of the kingdom, rebellious Wren sneaks off to the icy real of Gevra, where King Alarik offers Wren a deadly magical bargain in exchange for their grandmother’s freedom. Rose finds herself drawn to the long-lost Sunkissed Kingdom. But as an ancient curse rises from the darkness, Rose and Wren must come together and unite the crown. The future of Eana depends on it. ‘Break the ice to free the curse, Kill one twin to save another…’”

What is the book about?

After the events that took place at Rose’s wedding to the price of Gevra, Ansel, Rose and Wren, now ruling as twin queens, thought that the kingdom of Eana would finally be peaceful and safe for both the witches and their citizens. However, it seems that not everyone is pleased to have two witches as queens and will stop at nothing to get them off the throne. Not only that but King Alarik of Gevra holds Rose and Wren’s grandmother in his palace and doesn’t appear keen to negotiate giving her back. In order to secure their throne and calm the fast approaching rebellion, Rose organises a Royal Tour of the kingdom to show that both her and her sister want peace and are not dangerous. However, Wren has other plans and sneaks out of the palace to make her way to her grandmother all the way across the Sunless Sea in the icy real of Gevra. There she makes a deadly deal to perform some impossible magic for Alarik, but she will do anything to help her grandmother. Meanwhile, Rose’s tour doesn’t go to plan and she finds herself searching for the long-lost Sunkissed Kingdom in the middle of her desert. After all of this, an ancient curse is also rising and Rose and Wren must come together to save their kingdom and throne, or it may all be destroyed.

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

Twin Crowns was an absolutely amazing book and as soon as I finished I immediately begged my friend if I could borrow the second book, Cursed Crowns, which she happily brought to me despite having not read it, which is why I took ridiculously good care of the book and didn’t even leave a single mark on the spine. The ending of Twin Crowns had left me with many questions and I knew that I needed to get answers so, as soon as I got my hands on the next book, I began to read. Even from the first few pages I could tell I was going to absolutely adore reading Cursed Crowns and was sucked back into the kingdom of Eana from the very first chapter. I was honestly shocked at how easily I jumped back into the story and that it took me no time at all to forget the world around me and just become one with the book. Soon I found myself nearing the end and the cliff-hanger that was waiting for me made me wish that the third book wasn’t months away from being released (honestly how could I be stupid enough to start reading an unfinished series, no matter how amazing it is!). 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character was definitely one of the twins; however I don’t know which one I liked best because they each bring out the best in each other. In the last book, my choice for favourite character was Wren because Rose was too spoilt and whiny for my taste and I also thought that she was the one who would ruin everything if she ended up on the throne. However, this time I could see that Rose was not as bad as I had initially seen her and that with Wren she was at her strongest. I loved Rose because she was calm and calculated and knew how to be a peaceful and merciful queen. She always knew what to do in a situation, however she also had her flaws and the main one was that she didn’t always have the courage to do certain things because she didn’t think it was proper or she was too scared. In contrast, Wren had all the bravery and courage in the world and was more than capable of getting what she wanted. However, she wasn’t the best at thinking through her decisions and often let her temper and desire for revenge lead her. So the twins each had their flaws, however together they taught each other to fix those flaws and Rose became braver and Wren became calmer because they had each other. This time I clearly don’t have a favourite because they are better together.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part of the book would probably have to be when Wren finally kisses her second love interest. I know that there were a lot of more interesting parts of the book and this wasn’t the most action-packed or exciting part for most people, however it was for me. From the moment Wren entered the palace in Gevra and found herself face to face with this character I knew there was something there and as they slowly started to get to know each other and see more of each other I was sure, however until the moment the kissed I had been worried that I had been mistaken and the feeling I felt radiate off the page had been a figment of my imagination (which it technically was either way). I loved seeing how they acted around each other and how they subtly flirted. Although everything they did was to annoy each other, I could clearly tell that there was something more. They were both so similar in the way they sought revenge and cared more about family than anything else, however they were so blinded by their hatred for each other that I don’t think either of them even considered that what they were feeling wasn’t hate but actually love. I hope in the second book Wren gets to see more of her new lover and I honestly don’t know how she will choose between him and Tor because I don’t even know which one I prefer. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, Cursed Crowns was an incredible book and I loved reading it so much that I honestly can’t bring myself to regret starting this series before it was finished being written. One thing that I loved about the book was the amazing plot and how every time I picked up the book I forgot all my problems and just lived in another world much more magical than my own. I don’t know what I was expecting when I started to read the book but it certainly wasn’t a plot so perfect that I could believe that everything that was happening was true and not part of my own imagination. It was clear that this whole series was perfectly thought out and it wasn’t one book and then the next, it was all one beautifully written and flowing story. Most sequels and second books in trilogies aren’t the best and usually there isn’t enough of the plot to fill it. However, Cursed Crowns was nothing like that and I swear so much happened that I feel like months passed rather than a couple of weeks. I was fully immersed in the plot and loved that I saw none of it coming, especially not the plot twist near the end. I love books that make me forget that I’m reading and this book was definitely one of those and one of the books that I read late at night and because of how invested I was in it I found myself losing sleep just to finish a couple more chapters. Another thing that I loved about the book was the introduction of a new romantic interest for Wren. I was seriously waiting for the love triangle that I knew there had to be for it to me a young adult fiction book and here it was. However what I loved about it was that I actually found myself rooting for both couples and right now if anyone asked me which couple I shipped more I wouldn’t be able to tell them anything because they were both perfect love interests. I just can’t wait to read the next book and see which guy Wren chooses, thought I don’t know how she could possibly make that decision. Also, can we just stop for a moment to admire how beautiful the front cover of the book is? I thought that Twin Crowns had a gorgeous cover but this actually tops it. The colours are just incredible and the fact that the twins are identical and yet so different in their style and the fact that I can clearly tell which one is Rose and which is Wren shows how much thought has been put into this. 

Which book did you like better, the first or the second?

My favourite book so far has definitely got to be Cursed Crowns, although Twin Crowns was also a great book. I think the main reason I preferred the sequel over the first book was because the plot was a lot more packed and there was so much more happening in this book than in Twin Crowns. In the first book it was less action and more of just setting the story and answering questions about the twins past while also watching Wren live as her twin, terrified that she would be found out. In contrast, Cursed Crowns had two action-packed storylines, one with Rose, the Sunkissed Kingdom and the rebellion and another with Wren, Alarik, her grandmother and the forbidden magic she was being forced to use. I can’t believe that on top of all that there was also a major plot twist that set the whole tone for the third book. Another reason that I liked Cursed Crowns more than Twin Crowns was because I got to learn a lot more about Gevra and the King It really made me see him in a new light and I know that it made Wren do the same. I honestly can’t wait to read Burning Crowns and I hope that it’s even better than the previous two books, though I don’t know if that’s possible. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I 10000000% recommend that everyone reads this book right away, although it is important to read Twin Crowns before. It was perfect and I believe any reader over 15 who loved romance, fantasy and adventure will absolutely love this one. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

An action-packed, magical adventure with plot twists, romance and discoveries that will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the whole book. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

TWIN CROWNS by Catherine Doyle & Katherine Webber

“‘Two sisters. One crown.’ Princess Rose Valhart is heir to the throne of Eana. Rained from birth to fear the witches that killed her parents, she will do anything to defend her kingdom. Stolen from the palace at birth, Wren Greenrock is the secret sister no one knows about. She plots to usurp the princess in order to protect the witches of Ortha who raised her. In the battle for the crown of Eana, where will you allegiances lie?”

What is the book about?

Almost 18 years ago, the King and Queen of Eana were killed by one of the people closest to them only minutes after their twin daughters were born. To save them from their parents’ ruthless killer, one of them was taken from the palace, while the other was left to live a sheltered life in the palace. Princess Rose Valhart was the one who was left behind. She grew up in the palace believing all the lies she was told about the witches being the dangerous ones, the ones who needed to be destroyed, and the ones who killed her parents. She was raised to believe that her destiny was to become Queen and to rule a world free of witches and the fear that followed them. However, one night all of that is stolen from her as her sister Wren sneaks in the palace and steals her identity, leaving Rose surrounded by the witches that raised her twin. Wren Greenrock, a skilled enchantress, was raised by the witches of Ortha and was told the truth about her parents and the way the witches were treated years ago. She was also raised to believe that her destiny was to take the throne and become the witch queen Eana needed. But there is only one throne and 2 sisters, who believe they deserve the throne more than the other…

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

Before my friend introduced me to the book and forced me to take it home and read it, I had no idea Twin Crowns even existed. However, as soon as my friend, who normally likes the same sort of books that I like, told me that she loved the book and she really wanted me to read it because she thought I would also like it, I knew I had to read it because I trust her opinion completely and she had introduced me to many books that have become strong favourites of mine. I had absolutely no idea what the book was about when I started reading, but, after admiring the cover and title for many weeks, when I finally read the blurb I knew Twin Crowns was exactly the kind of book I love to read. The blurb made me so excited and intrigued as I was thirsting to find out more about the twin sisters and what would happen to their throne. Once I started to read, I immediately knew that my friend had been correct as I grew to love the book after reading only a couple pages. The book begun with the perfect scene that left me with many questions and allowed me to quickly jump into the book and forget I was reading. The ease with which I fell into the book highlighted just how amazing the book would be and I was soon finishing the story wanting to start the next book and continue the adventure. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

At the start, I thought choosing my favourite character would be a breeze, however, after some incredible character development, I wasn’t so sure anymore. I would probably have to say that my favourite character was probably Wren; however I really liked the change in Rose near the end of the book. To me, Wren was the more adventurous sister, the rebellious, reckless one, who wasn’t afraid of anything, especially not a challenge. I loved how she managed to sneak into the palace undetected and live under a stolen identity for such a long time, while also managing to snoop around the palace and discover different things. I really admired the way she used her magic and her fighting skills to her advantage and the fact that she wasn’t afraid to do what needed to be done to protect herself and her family, even if that meant resorting to violence. I think the main reason I preferred her to Rose was because she had experienced life and knew the truth and wasn’t afraid to fight for justice. However, once Rose spent some time with the witches and learnt that she had been lied to her whole life, I began to see that, although she was the calmer, more democratic and calculating sister, she wasn’t too different from Wren in the way that she would also do anything to get what she wanted (though she did choose to stop at violence). I think I also chose Wren over Rose because at the start I was fully supportive of Wren as Queen of Eana and thought that Rose would ruin everything and lead to the destruction of the witches, but in the end Rose and Wren had the same vision and I was happy with who ended up on the throne. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part of the book would probably have to be the ending for several different reasons. The main reason I really loved the ending of the book was because it made the most sense and meant that no sister was left on the side lines. Wren and Rose were both so different and brought different skills to the table, however on their own their strengths weren’t as powerful and they may not have been able to achieve what they meant to. However, together they were as strong as possible and I know that they will do wonders in the next book as they work together and each highlight the others admirable qualities because, no matter how different they seem, something they share alongside their physical features is the fact that neither of them is willing to give up what they want and they will do anything to get it. Another reason I liked this part of the book was because I finally got answers to the biggest question I had, one which had been plaguing me since the moment it was mentioned. This made me so happy because I hate being left with questions as I am rather impatient, so when I found out the truth I was overjoyed and filled with relief as I wouldn’t be left wondering for another whole book. The ending was great and it left me desperate to start the next book, yearning for more answers. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, Twin Crowns was an absolutely incredible book and there was nothing I would have changed about it. One thing that I loved about the book was its fast pace, which made it so easy for me to read it and forget that the world I was in was one only present in my imagination. It was so surprising that so much was able to happen in a book that was only 500 pages long and the speed of the plot and how enjoyable the plot was helped me read the book in only a couple of days. I found this book was impossible to put down as there was always something new that I just had to get answers about and everything went so fast that I was concerned I would miss something if I put the book down. The shirt chapters also contributed to my fast reading as I always find a book with short chapters easier to read than one with long ones. Another thing that I really liked about the book was the romance and love interests. Due to the fact that there were 2 main characters and that each was as important as the other, there were also 2 love interests and 2 love stories and somehow the authors managed to make both ridiculously easy to fall for. How can it be that 2 characters can be so well written that I find myself falling for their charms? Not only that but I was also rooting for both couple with ease and knew that they would be perfect for each other. I also loved that the romances were different for each sister and that there was no love triangle (which can be really annoying if not written properly). One other thing that I really liked about the book was that the story was so easy to follow and as more secrets were revealed it grew easier to understand the plot. The plot was so well written and the description of the characters and locations was so good that this was one of the reasons for which I found it so easy to forget that I was reading and I was able to connect with the characters, which were also very well written. Twin Crowns was amazing and I just can’t wait to see what the next book brings. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I would absolutely recommend reading Twin Crowns. I believe it is the perfect book for readers over 15 who have a love for fantasy, romance and adventure. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A story dripping with romance, adventure and secrets that will keep you totally bewitched from start to finish.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

THESE TWISTED BONDS by Lexi Ryan

“After Abriella's sister was sold to the fae, she thought life couldn't get any worse. But when she suddenly finds herself caught in a web of lies of her own making ¬- loving two princes and trusting neither - things are not quite as clear as she once thought. As civil war wages in the Court of Darkness, Brie finds herself unable to choose a side. How can she know where she stands when she doesn't even know herself anymore? In this darkly romantic thrill ride, the more Faerie is torn apart from the inside, the clearer it becomes that prophecies don't lie and Brie has a role to play in the fate of this magical realm – whether she likes it or not.”

What is the book about?

After years of being treated like a slave by her aunt and then having her sister sold to the fae, Abriella didn’t think it was possible for her life to get any worse. But, only a day after bonding to man she loves, she finds herself betrayed by everyone who she ever cared about. She was once sure about where her life was leading and where her heart was, however now she is caught in a web of lies of her own making and she finds herself loving two princes and not trusting either. Torn between her mind and her heart, Brie makes it her mission to help the innocent Unseelie that have been mistreated by the cruel Seelie queen. But, on this path, she finds herself back where she started, in a palace unable to choose a price while war rages between the Court of the Sun and the Court of the Moon. Not only that but after her transformation she no longer knows herself as she has become the thing she once hated. No matter how hard she tries to deny it, Brie has a part to play in Faerie and it is not just about passing the power she holds to one of the princes who can take the Throne of Shadows.

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

When I finished reading These Hollow Vows, I knew I had to read the second book in the duology, These Twisted Bonds. This wasn’t because These Hollow Vows had been so incredible that I really wanted to continue, instead it had been because of how ridiculously entertaining the first book had been and how I wanted to find out what Brie would do next to get herself out of the situation she was in. Before I started the book, I had been hopeful that Brie would have some good character development and would stop being so dramatic, feeling so sorry for herself and thinking constantly about her relationship problems. However, when I started to read I realised that that wasn’t going to happen and soon saw that Sebastian’s betrayal would be at the forefront of her mind throughout the book. Once I started the book, I found it easy to get into and did think that the author’s writing was quite good, which meant I was able to slip into the world of Faerie easily. I knew I would enjoy the book, but I had still been rather worried that it would be worse than These Hollow Vows. Luckily it wasn’t and all my initial thoughts had been correct.

Who was your favourite character and why? 

This time I can definitely claim that I have a favourite character, though unsurprisingly it is a completely new character that I had not met until reading this book. Although Misha, king of the Wild Fae and Pretha’s brother, had been mentioned in These Hollow Vows, I hadn’t gotten the pleasure of an introduction until I started These Twisted Bonds. When I first met him I didn’t know that I would choose him as my favourite because I didn’t even know who he was and didn’t find that out until the second time Abriella encountered him. Once he started to speak and tell Brie things that I had wanted to say to her from the moment I met her, I knew that this man was going to be the one who would make reading this book so much more enjoyable than the previous book. I loved when he told Brie that she needed to stop feeling sorry for herself and grow up because no one who ends up in a difficult situation chooses that so she isn’t special and doesn’t deserve to mope. These words and his charismatic, joking personality were enough for me to immediately like him and as I learnt more about him and he was involved in more of the book I got to truly get to know him and make a thought through decision when choosing him as my favourite.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

I honestly didn’t know how to answer this question, but if I really had to pick a favourite part I would have to say that I liked the ending of the book. This wasn’t just because I liked that Brie ended up with the person that she most wanted and that she was finally freed from the one she had once loved, it was mainly because I liked how she finally felt like she belonged somewhere. She had always felt like a misfit and that she didn’t belong and when she became Fae she began to think that there would never be a place that she could feel happy and call home as she could never go back to the human world and be with her sister and she didn’t think she could ever belong in the Fae world. However, at the end of the book her life completely changed and she finally found a place where she could not only feel happy but where she could do what she had always hoped to do: she found a place where she could make a difference and help people less fortunate than her. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, These Twisted Bonds was a rather enjoyable book and I found that there was a lot that I actually liked about the book (however there were some things I would have liked to change). One thing I really enjoyed about the book was the plot. Although I may have found the book too fixated on the romance, before I started reading the very first book I had been drawn to this duology because of the interesting plot that was not so different from the fantasy books I have always loved. This book in particular had exactly what I had been expecting: a 17 year old girl determined to save the world from being destroyed by an evil, powerful leader. It was so fun to read and the romance did add elements that I had never experienced in as much detail. Despite how enjoyable the plot was, there were several things that I would have liked more if they had been different. One of them was the character, who I thought were not the best and needed to have more of a personality. Particularly Brie, whose personality seemed to just be her love for her sister and the fact that she held the power of the Throne of Shadows. There were a few characters that I liked more, however I needed more. However, despite this and a few other things, I did enjoy reading These Twisted Bonds, and now that I look back at both books in the series I feel I may have been a bit harsh as I now know that the author of these books tends to write romance novels but chose to give fantasy a try. 

Which is your favourite book in the These Hollow Vows series? (1 or 2)

My favourite book of this duology would definitely have to be the second book, These Twisted Bonds. Although I did like reading These Hollow Vows, These Twisted Bonds just had a lot more things that I enjoyed, which meant I found it was the better book. One of those things was better characters (AKA Misha). After reading These Hollow Vows I decided that I didn’t have a favourite character because none of them had had any particularly interesting or nice characteristics. To be honest I had disliked the characters more than I had initially anticipated, specifically Abriella, Sebastian and Finn because of how suspicious the boys acted and how dumb Brie had been in believing them. However, These Twisted Bonds was different because it had Misha, the most charismatic, funny and charming character of the bunch. He was such a flirt and so entertaining and his ability to read minds only highlighted these characteristics more. He made the whole book better and I just wish there had been more characters I could’ve enjoyed. Another thing I enjoyed more about These Twisted Bonds was the fact that I felt like the book was actually leading somewhere. I know that with These Hollow Vows Brie had been doing what she did in order to save her sister; however it felt like all the information about her possessing the crown had no wider purpose. In contrast, when reading These Twisted Bonds I finally learnt how it was possible for a mere human to possess a Fae crown and the magic that it possessed. This made the whole book more interesting and I also felt like there was finally a reason for the whole situation because Brie was needed to save the whole Unseelie court from destruction. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I think I would recommend this book, specifically for those who like romance, fantasy and adventure books. I think it is best for readers over the age of 16, as there are some slightly more explicit scenes. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A magic filled romance between 2 princes trying to claim the same throne and the true heir.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego