PAPER TOWNS by John Green

“‘The thing about Margo Roth Spiegelman is that really all I could ever do was let her talk, and then when she stopped talking encourage her to go on, due to the facts that 1. I was incontestably in love with her, and 2. she was absolutely unprecedented in every way, and 3. She never really asked me any questions…’ Quentin Jacobsen had always loved Margo from afar. So when she climbs trough his window to summon him on an all-night road trip of revenge he cannot help but follow. But the next morning, Q turns up at school and Margo doesn’t. She’s left clues to her disappearance, like a trail of breadcrumbs for Q to follow. And everything leads to one unavoidable question: Who is the real Margo?

What is the book about?

Quentin has been Margo Roth Spiegelman’s neighbour for as long as he can remember and when they were younger they were great friends.  However as the years went by Margot got more and more interesting and amazing, while Quentin just stayed the ordinary boy he always was, continuing to watch her from afar, though she barely paid any attention to him, and admiring her strength and Margo-ness,  something that no one else could possibly comprehend. So one night, when Margo climbs through his bedroom window, he can do nothing except follow her into an adventure he couldn’t have imagined. Although at the start he regretted it, later in the night he began to realise he made the right choice to follow the girl here he had loved for so long. After the trip of revenge and felony was over, they finally arrive back home and Quentin is ready to see Margot at school next morning. However, when he arrives at school Margo is not there – she seems to have just disappeared and run away from home. But she's done this before and she always leaves clues, like a trail of breadcrumbs leading to her location. Quentin doesn't believe that she's just gone, he believes that she made it so that he would find her, so he must follow the clues before it's too late and embarks on a journey to uncover the real Margo Roth Spiegelman.

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

After reading The Fault in Our Stars  quite a while back, I realised how much I was going to enjoy the majority of John Green’s books so I made the decision to purchase as many as I could of the ones that I knew I was going to enjoy. Paper Towns was one of these books. As soon as I laid eyes on the cover, I knew that I was going to really enjoy it and the blurb did nothing but make me more and more excited at the fact that I was going to read another incredible and heart-breaking novel. When I finally began reading, after months of having it lying on my shelf collecting dust, I realised just how much I was missing out on from leaving it there so long. But slowly I continued to read and began to realise that maybe I had been too quick to judge. I truly did start of believing I wasn’t going to like this book, but now I am just disappointed and want those hours of my life back.

Who was your favourite character and why? 

This is one of the first few books where I truly do not have a favourite character. Although these characters felt more real than in any other book I have ever read because they act like real teenagers, annoyed and stressed and attempting anything just to procrastinate actually studying. However, how realistic they were is what made them so annoying because I personally feel like teenagers are annoying and I don’t really like many of them. I know this is quite hypocritical as I myself am a teen and I’m sure that many people find me annoying, but these characters where being just annoying and were constantly getting on my nerves. I hated Margo so much and I know for a fact that I wouldn’t even consider her to be my 10th favourite character, let alone the number 1. I found her so selfish and self-centred, and it was clear that she really believed that the world should revolve around her and that other people should worship her. The worst thing about her was how she made herself the victim saying that she found it tiresome being a perfect person that everyone liked. She also said Quentin should be grateful for how she had kept the other bullies, who were her friends, away from him, but I thought that was really annoying and selfish as she hadn’t thought of how she was just as horrid as them for allowing the bullying to happen in the first place. She really reminded me of all the horrible girls from my secondary school and how they always thought they were the most important. Quentin was also definitely not my favourite character and I thought he was really whiny and irritating. His obsession with Margo, who he didn't really even know because he just saw her from afar and thought she was amazing because of how pretty and cool she looked, was really annoying. I liked that the message of the book was really clear through his obsession because it shows us that we don’t really know people for who they really are, we only know the version of them that they choose to share and that we choose to see, but it was still hard to have to listen to him constantly talking about her and just abandoning everything for a girl who had paid no attention to him for years.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

Just like how I didn’t have a favourite character, I also don’t think that I have a favourite part of the book. Overall the book wasn’t that good, but highlighting some parts of the book and getting rid of the more boring and annoying parts doesn’t make it that bad of a book. Some of the parts that I did really enjoy were the chapters with the incredible inspirational quotes and the parts that had the funny and really ridiculous quotes. The book really did make me laugh, especially at the beginning. The ending might have been my favourite if it hadn’t have been so plain, but it really was good how it showed the true message of the book and how people aren’t who they seem, they are who they show you and what you choose to see. The beginning I think is probably my favourite then because it was a hilarious introduction to the characters and the start did actually make me laugh out loud quite a bit, but I am not sure if I could actually call it my favourite part.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, this probably wasn’t one of the best books I have read and, although I was a really big fan of John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars, I found this book quiet disappointing and boring. The further I got into the book, the worse I got. Firstly, let’s begin with the few things that I actually liked about the book. I think the thing that I liked best was probably the road trip. It was fun and entertaining and showed how really the only thing that teens actually want is to get the chance to drive around feeling all independent and strong and that travelling is one of the things that the majority of people want to get a chance to do in their lives. However it was a little bit unrealistic. Another thing that I did like was the quotes in the book. There were actually some very inspirational ones and this is one of the things that I enjoy the most about John Green’s books; he really is a phenomenal writer. One specific quote that I really loved was one about Margo and how she wasn’t some incredible being or mythical creature, or some “precious thing”, “she was a girl”. I really liked that Quentin finally realised that Margo wasn’t incredible; she was just a regular girl. Now let’s start listing the things that I didn’t like about the book and one giant one is Margo. She was definitely the most annoying character I have ever read about. The constant repetition of her name has made it impossible for me to ever forget the name Margo Roth Spiegelman. She was portrayed as the perfect girl. A legend that was entitled to do whatever the hell she wanted. I didn't care if she would be found or if she had killed herself, and to be honest I think it would have been a much better book if she had killed herself because then it would make sense and she could have been the girl constantly being forced into perfection and feeling the pressure. She really didn't deserve the attention she got and I am glad that I never have to read about her again.  I also got very confused at what the plot even was and it’s another thing I didn’t like because I was just so puzzled at the end at what the purpose of the book even was. There was also maybe supposed to be some romance or something but I was also really confused at what all of that was about. It truly didn’t make any sense. The pace was just really slow after a certain point and I feel like a lot could have been avoided. Another thing that I didn’t like was the fact that Quentin and his friends skipped their graduation for a road trip to find one of the most annoying human being on the planet. I found it extremely unrealistic and so confusing. After a while I started to really wish that the book would end so I could move on with my life, but a part of me wished that something actually happened at the end so that the book could have made sense. It was a decent book at the start, but I would have done a lot of things differently in the middle and at the end.

Would you recommend this book?  

I don’t really recommend the book, but feel free to read and waste your time. If you do read it I recommend it for over 14 year olds, who enjoy a little adventure and don’t mind getting quite annoyed at cheesy and needy characters. But do not read it if you aren’t prepared for a confusing and utterly pointless plot. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A slow paced road trip adventure with inspirational quotes but a pointless plot.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

SPINDERELLA

What is the book about?

A spider that does not know how to count and gets help from a hairy godmother, who tells her what numbers are.

Who was your favourite character and why? 

 My favourite character was Spinderella because she liked numbers like me and she liked football like me.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

 My favourite part of the book was when Spinderella scores a goal at the end and wins the game because it was very fun and I liked that Spinderella won.

What did you think of the book and why?

I really liked the book because it was very interesting and had lots of things that I liked in it and it was very cool how Spinderella had a hairy godmother who had magic and helped her. 

Reviewed by Fabiola Gutierrez Reviriego

SMILE by Raina Telgemeier

“Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth. What follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth attached. And on top of all that, there’s still more to deal with: a major earthquake, boy confusion, and friends who turn out to be not so friendly. Raina’s story takes us from middle school to high school, where she discovers her artistic voice, finds out what true friendship really means, and where she can finally…smile. 

What is the book about?

This book is a true story based on the life of Raina Telgemeier. Raina seems to have a perfectly normal, drama free life. But one night, everything changes when she trips and falls while running with her friends after a Girl Scouts meeting, and knocks out both her front teeth. The story follows Raina as her dentist, Dr Golden, tries his best to fix her teeth and leave her with a healthy and normal looking mouth. On top of all that dental drama, Raina also has to deal with boys, friendships, a major earthquake and the transition from middle school to high school. Here she is finally able to be her true self and finds true friends and discovers her love of art. 

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

I have never really liked to read and personally I think it is extremely boring, but my sister is insistent on the fact that books aren’t boring and if I think that then I’m just not reading the right books for me. So, finally after years of trying different types of genres, she found one that she was almost 100% sure that I would love – a graphic novel called Smile. When she handed it to me I wasn’t too sure what I would think of it. It didn’t look like it would be that interesting and I wasn’t really used to graphic novels so I was a bit confused as to why she thought I would like it. But, as soon as I read the first page I knew why she thought I would definitely enjoy this book – it was fast-paced and had so many pictures; it was perfect for me. I whizzed through the book and soon I found myself asking my sister for another book like it. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character was definitely Raina because she was like what every person feels like on the inside when they are in their teenage years, awkward and weird and out place. She made me feel a little bit more confident in myself because I knew that I was not the only one who was feeling a little bit alone and I think now I feel like I can be more like myself now and not how other people want me to be. I particularly admired her when she finally stood up to her so-called friends, because this is something that I don't think I would ever be able to do myself because of how scary it is to be on your own and, even if they aren’t real friends, at least having someone to make it look like you aren’t a loner, makes secondary school (high school) a whole lot easier. I’m having some friendship issues myself at the moment and seeing that I’m not the only one makes it easier to keep going and to just fight back and make a stand for myself. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part of the book was definitely when Riana finally stood up to her friends because it had been bugging me from the first time I saw them being mean to her and I just really wanted to slap them all. This part really showed me that I should have more self-respect and that I don't deserve to be treated badly by anyone and no one should ever have to feel like their own friends or family aren’t there for them.  This also showed me that Raina wasn’t just some weird, awkward teen and that she was actually very brave and she had her own views and her own things to say.  This really showed me that sometimes you have to leave behind the people who you spend every day with because sometimes they are holding you back and you need to just let them go and see what you can do for yourself. Her friends had been doing terrible things to her and I had to just sit there and read through those parts when I really just wanted to tell her to man up and tell them to stop, and when she finally did it I realised that I should also be able to do that if I was ever put in that situation. It was a really inspirational part of the book and I really enjoyed it.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, I really enjoyed reading Smile and I sped through it completely and reached the end far too quickly. One thing that I really liked about it was how fast-paced it was and that it really just went straight in. With most books I read, I find that I get extremely bored after only a couple pages because the author introduces things too slowly or gives me an extremely boring backstory that I really don't care about, but with this book I got none of that feeling of boredom and I just couldn't put it down. Another thing I also liked about it was the incredibly drawn pictures that made it feel like I wasn't really reading at all and I was actually experiencing the story for myself. I never really thought I would feel something like this as I've always believed that books are just words on paper, but I realise now that my sister was right all along and books  can make you feel something and can connect with you on a whole different level. This graphic novel really was amazing and I just can't wait to read another book like this. I have a feeling I'm going to enjoy all of Raina Telgemeier’s books, especially if they like Smile. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I recommend this book to anyone around 9-13 years old who is looking for a book that they will finally not find boring and will actually enjoy. It is perfect for first time enjoyment readers. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

An incredibly well written and drawn graphic novel based on a true story.

Reviewed by Aldara Gutierrez Reviriego

NOTHING MORE TO TELL by Karen M. McManus

“True crime can leave a false trail… Four years ago, Brynn left Saint Ambrose School following the shocking murder of her favourite teacher. The case was never solved, but she’s sure that the three kids who found Mr Larkin’s body know more than they’re telling, especially her ex-best friend Tripp Talbot. He’s definitely hiding something. When Brynn gets an internship working on a popular true-crime show, she decides to investigate what really happened that day in the woods. But the further she dives into the past, the more secrets she finds. Four years ago, someone got away with murder. Now it’s time to uncover the truth…”

What is the book about?

Four years ago, Brynn left Saint Ambrose School following the shocking murder of her favourite teacher, Mr. William Larkin. The case was cleanly solved, with a random drifter thought to be to blame for the murder, though actually the murder was never truly solved. When Brynn is heading back to her home town, she is not sure if she is ready to face her classmates again, but she is determined to stay apart from everyone and suffer through the next few months until she can leave again. When an opportunity presents itself, Brynn decides to go for a once in a lifetime internship, and in order to appear more interesting to the true crime TV show, Brynn brings up the unsolved murder at her interview. She believes that the 3 kids from her year group that discovered the body know more than they are telling, so she decides to investigate further. But some secrets are better left alone, and, even though she goes into school determined to keep her internship secret and stay away from everyone else, she ends up in a tangled web of lies and it turns out the murder is a lot more complicated than she initially thought...

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

As soon as I discovered that Karen M. McManus was writing another book, I immediately searched for it on Amazon and pre-ordered it. I had been waiting for this book for so long when it finally arrived and, as soon as I got it, I was already bursting with excitement at the thought of reading it. I have always loved Karen M. McManus' books but as soon as I laid eyes on Nothing More To Tell I realised, and I don't really know how I knew this, that this book was going to be better than any other book I have read by her so far. As soon as I read the blurb and got into the book, I was completely sure that Nothing More To Tell was going to be an incredible read that I was never going to forget. Then, after reading only the first chapter of the book, I had already been completely absorbed into the mystery and soon I was looking up completely confused at the fact that I was in my room at home and not solving a murder. The whole time I was reading I was wishing to reach the end and find out the truth, but also I was hoping the book would never end and I could just keep reading more about the mystery. This was one of my favourite books (which you can probably tell from the lengthy review below).

Who was your favourite character and why? 

This truly was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made because for some reason this is one of the books that had 2 main characters that weren’t annoying. The main character is usually some whiny person that constantly thinks themselves the best and that they are the most important in the whole book (although this is all true). . Brynn was an extremely likeable main character, always striving for perfection in every story she wrote and she wouldn’t give up until she was able to figure out the truth, no matter what happened. At the end, although I was glad that she continued and never stopped replaying the facts of the story, I did think it was a little hypocritical of her to blame herself for everything and then continue doing the same thing that got her into the mess in the first place. But she wasn’t annoying at all, and did things logically and strategically. Tripp, however, was different. At the beginning of the book, I thought that he was going to be like any other high school hot jerk and the fact that he was a scholarship kid and was still considered elite really confirmed that for me at the start – a rich boy wannabe. But when I got to know his story a little more, I started to like him a bit more. I truly felt sorry for the burden he had had to carry for years, especially at such a young age. He had to cope with so much and, hearing his story fully, I realised just how brave and strong he had to be to pull off everything he had, and in the end I really ended up liking him (it also didn’t help that he was good looking!). Interestingly both Tripp and Brynn were most likable characters the author ever created and it was also perfect that the romance in the book was between them. Despite the incredibly well written main characters, I think that my favourite character was probably Brynn’s little sister, Ellie, who I think was the one who actually solved the mystery and without her they wouldn’t have been able to do it. It was kind of embarrassing for Brynn and Tripp that they would probably not have figured it out without her trap, at least not for a lot longer. Ellie was such a great character, fun and charismatic (the friendlier, more social and more exciting sister) and I would love more of her in the future, so I really hope that the sequel stars her (like how the sequel of One of Us is Lying stars Bronwyn’s sister) or her own mystery to solve. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

The whole book was absolutely incredible and I really enjoyed every single part, so this decision is really difficult for me. It was actually so difficult that this is the first time that I actually cannot choose a favourite part; however one thing that I can tell you for sure is that it is definitely not the ending! But thankfully, now that I have nothing more to tell (pun intended) about my favourite part, there is more room for my overall impression of the book (which I have lots to say about).

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, Nothing More To Tell was a marvellous read and I truly adored everything about it (except one tiny detail that stopped it from being a true 10/10). One thing that made this an absolutely incredible book is the fact that the story was told from the perspectives of two likable characters, and this made it better than Karen M. McManus’ previous works. I was so grateful for this because it wasn’t at all confusing to have multiple points of view and, as I liked both characters and they both led very interesting sides of the story, I didn’t (not even once) wish for it to switch back to either of the characters. Another thing that I will never ever stop thinking about is the fact that all of the books covers are the exact same style and this is the main reason why Karen M. McManus’ books are my absolute favourite. They just look so beautiful and organised on my bookshelf and I am a little bit (a lot!) of a perfectionist with a bit of OCD and these books satisfy me so much with how clean and perfect they are. I just cannot get over the smooth, identical perfection! One thing that I also cannot get over, which is not a good thing, is how abrupt the ending was. I was so shocked at the fact that the book ended so quickly summarising everything so quickly and just moving on. I was just so confused and it was almost like Karen M. McManus had a word limit or something and she was just trying hr hardest to fit everything in. This book had so much potential and the plot was incredible, but I think she should have changed the epilogue completely and just made a second book. But, when it came to the real epilogue I was in shock at the fact that, rather than the killer showing up, I turned the page to see that it was the epilogue, where everything should sweetly end with the characters in their lovely lives 5 years later. I was so confused and seriously believed I had skipped pages. It didn’t make any sense and I didn’t understand how we could just end up with such a rough and horrible explanation of who the killer was. Also, the biggest shock to me was the fact that Brynn was just willing to let all of this go and leave the killer to walk free when she had put in so much more before and nothing and no one had been able to stop her. However, I still suspect a follow-up to this book, even though we know who the killer was (at least I think so??) because of the shocking epilogue twist that occurred right at the last second, and I do think this could be very good if well planned and written, but we’ll just have to wait and see. But, if a sequel isn’t written I will be very angry as there are many things left unsolved and some plot holes. One last thing I would like to mention is the fact that the plot was just so incredible and you can really tell that the author put a lot of work into it, so much work that she included references to all the previous mystery cases, which I really loved and cannot stop thinking about. All of Karen M. McManus’ books are absolutely incredible and I really loved them all, but Nothing More To Tell is definitely my favourite because it had everything – amazing character development, an incredibly well written academia mystery and a dual narrated story; it completely blew my mind! This book is definitely in my top 10!!

Would you recommend this book?  

I absolutely adored Nothing More To Tell and would 100000% recommend it to anyone. Particularly, I think that you will most enjoy the book if you are over 13 and enjoy murder mysteries, crime novels, thrillers and a bit of romance. It is an amazing book and I think everyone who reads it will love it.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A shocking and thrilling mystery with a sprinkling of romance.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

SORCERY OF THORNS by Margaret Rogerson

“All sorcerers are evil. Elisabeth has known that as long as she has known anything. Raised as a foundling in one of Austermeer’s Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up among magical grimoires that rattle beneath iron chains, capable of transforming into grotesque monsters. When an act of sabotage releases the library’s most dangerous grimoire, Elisabeth is accused of treason. With no one to turn to but her sworn enemy, the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, and his mysterious servant, she finds herself entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy. Not only could the Great Libraries go up in flames, but the world along with them.”

What is the book about?

Ever since Elisabeth was a little girl she has been raised with the fundamental idea that all magic and sorcery is evil. Raised as a foundling in one of the Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up surrounded by books, but not just any books, grimoires filled with magic spells and information on everything that you could possibly imagine. Although the grimoires seem completely innocent, Elisabeth has always known that there is a danger when it comes to them and she has always seen them chained in iron and treated like monsters. One day, Elisabeth has the opportunity to see a sorcerer with her own eyes, and she does not want to waste that, but she soon finds herself wishing she had never been so curious. In a dramatic turn of events, an act of sabotage in the library results in Elisabeth being blamed for the destruction of one of the most valuable grimoires in the world.  Alone and desperate, Elisabeth have no choice but to trust Nathaniel Thorn, a sorcerer who she was taught to hate, and his mysterious and rather strange servant. But this is not just a matter of sabotage in one Great Library and she ends up finding herself tangled up in a centuries-old conspiracy. Now she and Nathaniel must save the world from destruction or the Great Libraries will go up in flames and there will be no one left to save them.

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

The first time I spotted Sorcery of Thorns I had just been scrolling on Amazon like I normally do when I really want to get more books. As soon as I saw it, the book called out to me and was basically screaming at me to buy it. The cover and the title just made me think I would love it and then after reading the blurb I knew I was going to really enjoy reading it. Unfortunately, I never got around to buying it, but when I went round my friend’s house and found it on her shelf I knew I had to borrow it and read it. As I had read another book by Margaret Rogerson before this one (An Enchantment of Ravens) and had found the beginning a little bit boring, I was quite concerned that I was going to find that this book would also be a bit slow to begin with. So when I opened the book and began to read it came to be as a complete shock that I was already hooked after only the first chapter and I was soon flying through the book. From the very first page I already knew that this book was going to be absolutely incredible and I was prepared for it to become one of my favourite books. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

So, although there were a lot of lovable and amazing characters in the book, I didn’t find it too difficult to choose a favourite character – Elisabeth. I think that the main reason why I found that she was my favourite was the fact that she reminded me of the head-strong, resilient reader that I hope that I can become, and each day that I read about Elisabeth I felt like I too could save the world if I continued to read books and believe in myself. She was brave and strong and she never gave up, and, even when everyone else believed that there was no hope, she continued to fight because she made the choice that, even if there was no way that she would succeed, she would try her harder because she would rather die with a purpose rather than live knowing that she could have tried and possibly succeeded I making a difference. Another thing that really made her stand out to me was the fact that she was such a relatable character in the way that she too was a misunderstood girl who always felt like an outsider due to her relationship with books. It has always been hard for me to accept the fact that I’m the weird and different one and not the majority of teens in the world that hates reading with a passion, however Elisabeth really helped me see that it is good to be different because in the end you will be rewarded for it. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

Choosing my favourite part was quite difficult because the whole book was absolutely incredible, however if I really had to pick one specific part I would probably the ending of the last chapter of the book.  Now, by the last chapter I don't mean the epilogue and now that I think about it the epilogue was probably one of my least favourite part, what I'm referring to is chapter 36 and the ending of it. I really loved this chapter because it's the chapter where I really realised just how amazing the book was and when I really started to understand that the book had affected my emotions and had connected with them in a way that not many books do. I realised that I truly felt for all the characters and fact that a certain, unforeseeable thing had happened to one of them made me really feel something deep and true for them. I know have mentioned this quite a few times but I'm going to reiterate it because it's something very important when it comes to books and that is that the book has not done its job and is not good book if it doesn't make you feel something, whether that is sadness, anger, happiness or any other feeling, but if it doesn't make you feel of anything then the author has not done their job. So when I realised that the book had really connected with my feelings I then discovered that this book was truly incredible. This was also a part where I realised that a certain character was a lot kinder and stronger than I had ever know before and I had wished that this had been something that we had been able to see earlier in the novel but I know that the author picked the right place to put it because it was a very important moment that really connected with my heart and I think it was quite talented the way that the author was able to truly connect with the readers. Although this is chapter one of my favourite I really loved the whole book and every single part was incredible. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, the whole book was absolutely incredible and I found that there was very little that I didn't enjoy. However, one thing that I did find wasn't up to my standards was the ending of the book and by this I mean the epilogue. I feel like it is a pattern with Margaret Rogerson's books because in both the novels that I have read of hers I have found that the book endings and epilogues didn't give me as much closure as I would have liked and really left me with the opportunity to figure out how things ended for the characters myself when it is something that I would have quite liked to have found out from her. I know that some people like the opportunity to expand on what the author wrote but I personally prefer it when the author creates a future of those characters and although I was giving more hope for those characters I feel like things could be in a bit better and we could have been given a little more information about them. Although, this was something that I didn't necessarily like about the book, there were hundreds of other things that I absolutely adored. One thing that I really loved was the start of the romance and how the characters kind of hid their feelings from each other and themselves and the funniest thing was that a certain character, who really didn’t know much about human interaction and romance, was the only one who actually spotted the feelings that they had for each other. It was also a slight forbidden romance, not forbidden necessarily by law but more by the morals that the characters had and, even though the characters could easily start a relationship, they attempted to stop anything from flourishing in order to avoid any future pain and suffering for themselves and each other and also to avoid breaking the moral rules that had been in place since they were little. Another thing that I really enjoyed about the book was the magic in it and how magic was something evil rather than something good like it usually is in most other books. I also really loved the addition of the grimoires and how the books themselves had a special power that should be studied and care for. I adored how Elisabeth had an incredible relationship with those books and I really liked the idea of the Great Libraries and how those books with cared for and treated. It was really incredible to see the relationship between each character and magic and personally I really enjoyed seeing Elisabeth journey from believing that magic was evil to slowly growing to realise that magic actually didn't have anything bad about it and if you used it in a good responsible way then magic could actually save lives. One last thing that I would like to mention is fact that the world building and character building in this novel was absolutely incredible and I connected with each character on a much deeper level than I ever have before. Sometimes I have not actually been able to picture certain things in books, however in this book everything was clear and perfect and I really loved her able to build that landscape and picture each room in my head perfectly. This really made the novel come alive for me. The book was absolutely incredible and I know that, although all of this is over I will see myself coming back to revisit the wonders I've been through.

Would you recommend this book?  

I would definitely recommend this book for anyone, preferably over 13, who is a lover of all things fantasy, adventure, magic and romance.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A romantic and magical adventure full of secrets, lies and sorcery.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

AN ENCHANTMENT OF RAVENS by Margaret Rogerson

“Every enchantment has a price… Isobel is a portrait artist with a dangerous set of clients: the immortal fair folk. Yet when she receives her first royal patron – Rook, the autumn prince – she makes a horrific mistake. She paints the mortal sorrow in his eyes – a weakness that could cost him his life. Furious, Rook escorts Isobel to his kingdom to stand trial for her crime, but their journey is full of danger. Forced to depend on each other for survival, will their alliance blossom into something more? After all, their love would violate the fair folks’ ruthless laws…but are some matters worth the risk?”

What is the book about?

Isobel creates Craft - stunning portraits for the fair folk, beautiful and immortal clients that would do anything to get their hands on any new human Craft. They crave human Craft as they themselves would turn to dust if they were to pick up a paintbrush and stroke a sheet of paper or hold a saucepan over a stove, so they trade enchantments for Isobel’s paintings. But Isobel and all other humans must be careful for, though these creatures cannot lie, they are able to twist words with a talent and a simple enchantment may mean be your death. When Isobel receives a mysterious, royal new client – Rook, the autumn prince – she makes a deadly mistake and highlights a (so called) weakness in her painting that could cost him his throne, and his life. In an attempt to fix his reputation Rook whisks Isobel away to his kingdom to stand trial for her crime. But the path is long and dangerous and no matter where they run they are attacked by monsters from Rook’s world. Thy have no one to rely on but each other and gradually an alliance forms and an emotion that would end with them both killed begins to blossom. They must find a way to crush that feeling or risk everything for it…

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

At the start of the month I went over to my friend’s house and she is as much as a book lover as me so whenever I go round her house or she comes round mine we always seem to be going back home with at least a couple books in our arms. So, when I came home after spending the afternoon with her, I happened to have An Enchantment of Ravens in my arms and I was so excited to read it. I had been warned by my friend that the book had a relatively slow start, but I had decided to ignore it as it looked so interesting and I ended up with very high hopes for it. Therefore, when I started reading I ended up completely and utterly shocked at the fact that I was so bored. I knew in the end  I would most likely love it, because when I had read the blurb I had been so captivated by it, but when I started reading my hopes quickly went downhill and I wasn’t sure I had made the right decision in reading it. I spent ages on chapter 8, not wanting to read on but knowing I had to. Finally, I sat down one evening and read as far as I could and got so engrossed that I had soon finished the book and was completely shocked at how I could have possibly thought I wasn’t going to like it only a few days ago. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

This was a very difficult decision, strangely much harder than picking my favourite part, which you all know I tend to struggle most on. However, I finally decided on a favourite character…Rook. Although to begin with I thought he was a rather odd character, he continued to intrigue me throughout the book and I grew rather fond of him. At the start I had already begun to see how he was different to all the other fair people – kind to Isobel and not at all self-righteous or selfish. However, when he appeared in the dead of night and practically dragged Isobel into the woods over a painting I began to doubt his whole personality. Finally I started to see him soften around Isobel and let his true self shine through. Although he was self-confident and brave, he was also soft and had feelings that he himself hated but I loved because he wasn’t an unfeeling monster like the rest of them. When he finally declared his love for Isobel it was clear to me that he was the best character because he was willing to do anything for Isobel, even die, and he wasn’t afraid to make his feelings known to everyone around him, even if it would cost him his crown and his life. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part is very clear to me but a bit hard to explain without sort of ruining the plot so I will try my best, as usual to explain why I liked it without saying what it was. So, I will begin by saying that the reason this part of the book definitely stood out to me was because it was the part where I was no longer bored by the predictable story and was actually interested in what was going to happen. At this part, everything seemed to click into place and both characters seemed to realise, even though neither of them actually wanted to admit it, what they wanted and that they would never actually be able to get it unless something dramatically and drastically changed. This is also the first time where the ‘Good Law’ was mentioned with no context or any explanation whatsoever so I was even more intrigued by the fact that I had no idea what was wrong and just how terrible it would be to break such a law. This scene is where I started really rooting for the characters and hoping that they would be able to succeed in more than what they believed they would. 

What was your overall impression of the book? 

Overall, I really loved An Enchantment of Ravens and thought it was incredibly well written and had many twists that I wouldn’t have been able to spot. One thing that I really loved about the book was the (though very obvious) forbidden romance. Although it had been evident from the start that the 2 main characters would fall in love and there would be some issue, I couldn’t have known what was coming and I was shocked to realise how forbidden their love really was. I also really enjoyed how the romance took many twists and turns along the way and, at one point, even seemed lost (but I had always known that it was still there). Another thing that I really liked about the book was that this was one of the books where, although I really hoped and believed that both characters would survive and be able to be together, I seriously doubted it, especially at the end, and didn’t know if they were going to make it (to be honest I still don’t know if they will live to see a happy ending). I really liked this because in most books I know that the author would never kill off anyone important, however, An Enchantment of Ravens was different and really made me worry for the characters whenever they were in trouble. One last thing I really liked was the fact that the book was beautifully written and had the most detailed and amazing descriptions that, although at the beginning I was concerned I would find a little boring, really helped me imagine myself there with the characters. Although the book was off to a rocky (slow) start, I really ended up loving the book and my parting message to you all is to keep reading because it will be worth it in the end.

Would you recommend this book?  

I would absolutely recommend this book to any reader over the age of 14 who enjoys a fantasy adventure filled with magic, mayhem and mystery. An Enchantment of Ravens was a marvellous book and I really enjoyed it and I believe that anyone who picks it up – and perseveres through the first few chapters – will absolutely love it like I did.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A beautifully written fantasy adventure.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

CINDERELLA IS DEAD by Kalynn Bayron

“It’s 200 years since Cinderella found her prince…but the fairy tale is over. Sophia knows the story though, off by heart. Because every girl has to recite it daily, from when she’s tiny until the night she’s sent to the royal ball for choosing. And every girl knows that she has only one chance. For the lives of those not chosen at the ball…are forfeit. But Sophia doesn’t want to be chosen. She doesn’t want to go to the ball at all. Not when she’s afraid the girl she loves might be chosen too. Pushed beyond breaking by a society that denies everything she is, Sophia sets out on a journey that will remake her world…into one where SHE gets to choose.”

What is the book about?

It has been 200 years since the start of Cinderella’s fairy tale, when she met her prince, but the fairy tale lives on in the kingdom of Mersailles. This is because every girl from when she first learns to the night she’s sent to the royal ball is forced to recite it daily. The royal ball is similar to Cinderella’s ball where she met her prince, but now the stakes are much higher. Every girl in Lille, at the age of 16, must attend the royal ball and compete to win the heart of one of the men at the ball, so that she can be chosen by him and they can then live the rest of their lives like Cinderella and Prince Charming. But this royal ball isn’t even remotely charming as each girl only has 3 chances to be chosen, and if not then their lives will be forfeit. But Sophia doesn’t want to be chosen. She doesn’t even want to go to the ball at all. For all she wants is to live a quiet life with the girl she loves, away from all the expectations of her society. Then one night Sophia is pushed beyond her limit by the rules that deny everything she is, so she sets out on a journey to remake her world into one where she and every other girl in Mersailles has a chance to be herself and choose her own path. 

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

This was a book that I had never actually thought of ever buying or reading. I had seen it multiple times in Waterstones whenever I went in to admire the books and I had always been intrigued by it, but never enough to convince myself into buying it. Only a little while ago I met up with my friend who shares a love of reading with me and we were discussing the books we had read over the summer and the still unread ones we had on our shelves. Then, while we were in her house and I was taking in the wonderful books she had on her shelves, I came across one that I had been dying to get, and, as I was going to be borrowing some books anyways, she almost screamed at me to take Cinderella is Dead and read it first, because she was in great need of discussing the book with someone. The cover and the blurb intrigued me and I was really interested in reading the book and being able to uncover all the mysterious secrets it held within its pages. Now that I have finished reading it, I cannot believe the adventure I have been on and how I passed up the opportunity of reading the book multiple times. Cinderella is Dead never bored me and grasped my attention from the very first page. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

There were a couple of characters I loved and many more that I think I really would have liked if it weren’t for the shocking rules in place stopping them from expressing their true selves. However, the character that was my favourite was one that never stopped fighting to be herself and who tried hard to defy the king, even when she knew that she could be killed in a second for a single tiny misstep – Sophia. Everyone thought Sophia was an idiot; she purposefully defied everything that the king said and she did everything she could to try to be herself. In the beginning, I too thought that it was wildly irresponsible of her to continue to stand against the king’s rules when she knew that it could get her and her loved ones killed without a chance to explain. But, once I began to understand that it didn’t matter if she obeyed or disobeyed because either way she was going to live a life full of pain and sorrow. After finishing the book I realised the growing respect I had for Sophia because of how brave and selfless she was. She kept pushing and trying to change the world for her family and friends and all the other citizens of Mersailles and she risked her life in the process. And when the end finally came and everything was finally coming together, she decided that she would save everyone else before saving herself. I believe she was the best character because of how she lived in the same place as thousands of others and yet she was one of the first to ever try to defy the king openly, rather than just keep running. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

I think that my favourite part of the book was the ending because of how it was almost like all hope was lost and there was no way that anyone would ever be able to change anything in Mersailles, but Sophia didn’t accept it and decided that the only way she could ever make a difference was to give it her all. She risked her life in trying to make Mersailles a better place for every single girl and boy who would ever want something different to the rules the king had made. She made the choice to risk her own life so that others could live the lives that they wanted to live and not ones that had been decided for them. The twists that came at the end of the book were shocking and answered many of the questions that I still hadn’t got answers to. I loved the ending because it showed me that you should never ever give up hope even when there is only darkness surrounding you and it showed me that freedom is always worth fighting for, if not for yourself then for all the other people that will come after you and will be grateful for your effort to make their lives better.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, I really loved reading Cinderella is Dead and enjoyed every second of it. One of the things that I really loved about the book was how it was one of the most twisted fairy tales I have ever read. I have read many fairy tale retellings and this genre will always hold a very special part of my heart because of how these tales were my childhood and without the Disney Princesses that I adored I wouldn’t have turned out to be a fiction lover, always wanting to go into another world where magic is possible. Now Kalynn Bayron went completely beyond my expectations as she took a fairy tale, twisted it and then set the book 200 years after that fairy tale. Everything was based on the tale that I had loved when I was little and still loved, but it was a lie and thousands of people had wrongly lived their lives trying to follow the fairy tale Cinderella had lived. Another thing that I really liked was how the whole book felt, in a way, like a giant plot twist, but then at the end came the real twists. I knew that the book was going to be interesting and mysterious, but I had definitely not been prepared for what I actually read. One last thing that I absolutely adored was the ending. In the last few chapters I was holding my breath, completely unsure of what was going to happen and how everything would turn out. It was like all hope was lost for a little bit and there was no way at all that the ending would be happy. The book really taught me how you have to hold on to hope when in the darkness, because, if not, you really have nothing left. I really loved Cinderella is Dead and am anxious to be able to talk about the events with my friend. It was an incredible, unique book and I hope to read many more like it. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I would undoubtedly recommend this book to anyone who adores mysteries, adventures and fairy tale retellings. It is an amazing read, particularly for readers over the age of 13 who are ready to be thrown into a magical twisted tale filled with secrets. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A magical, twisted fairy tale full of secrets and sorrow like no other. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego