kellysrambles's Reviews (619)

Echostar is a frightening glimpse at the ever real world of AI and technology and the dangerous influence they can have on a person. 

When Deva initially tells Ruby about Echostar, Ruby feels betrayed by her best friend for cheating and not telling her about it. When Ruby turns to Echostar for help, she couldn’t possibly imagine where its use would lead her. A frightening set of events culminate in an explosive ending showing the damaging impact this kind of technology can have on someone’s life - especially a vulnerable child. The end of the story sent a little shiver down my spine! 

A Black Mirror-esque short story which a huge impact and a story which will stick with me as our reality becomes more and more influenced and controlled by technology. 

Thank you to Barrington Stoke, Melinda Salisbury and NetGalley for my early review copy in exchange of a fair and honest review. 

Faebound is a romantic fantasy brimming with magic, prophecy and romance. It has everything I love about a fantasy: heaps of magic, its own mythology, animal companions, friendships, frenemies, twists and turns all topped off with a burning sapphic enemies to lovers romance. 

Set in a world where only the Elves remain, Yeeran is a fierce warrior who, alongside her diviner sister Lettle and fellow warrior Rayan, stumbles upon the world of the Fae - a world they thought had ended thousands of years before. Captives in the Fae land, this book took on so many twists to the plot and I loved each of them - some you could sense were coming but others had me shook. 

There are so many fantastic characters: from our fierce sisters Yeeran and Lettle, to the powerful Furi, the mysterious Komi and the faithful Rayan. I absolutely adored Golan - the Lightless stylist to the Royal Fae - he read like a hug from a best friend. Pila and the obeah (magical companions) were right up there with my favourites too - Pila definitely had a little sassy side and some of her snarky comments to Yeeran made me chuckle at times. 

There’s action, friendships, betrayal, prophecy, romance, magic, spice(!) and so much to love about this book. For a fantasy novel it was an easy read and the world building made everything so vivid and easy to imagine. 

This was my first time reading a book by Saara El-Arifi and I’ll definitely be highly anticipating the rest of this trilogy and checking out her other novels. Brilliant! 

Thank you to Harper Voyager UK, Saara El-Arfi and NetGalley for my early review copy in exchange of a fair and honest review. 

Ah this book is delightful! It is magical and left me with a lovely fuzzy feeling at the end whilst not shying away from the complexities of human emotions. 

Zed’s father is a famous Demon Hunter, not just famous, THE BEST. This story is all about Zed discovering the truth about Demons and the rollercoaster of emotions that comes with it. Is he letting his father down? Has he been lied to his whole life? Should he do what others want and expect or stand up for his own beliefs? 

I adored this book from start to end. A host of characters to love and loathe and Zed himself struck the wonderful balance of being funny and compassionate. 

“Rejecting who you are, forcing yourself to become someone you’re not, is painful.”

This story is full to the brim of messages of acceptance and the importance of not pre-judging others without getting to know them. A wonderful message wrapped up in a magical adventure! 

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Children’s Books, Benjamin Dean and NetGalley for my early review copy in exchange of a fair and honest review. 

3.5 stars 

This book has a “The Hunger Games meets Lost” kind of vibe which is what initially piqued my interest. 

Told from the POV of 3 characters: Bex, Raya and Zane who have all been chosen to compete in the once in a lifetime opportunity to win £500,00 in famous reality show The Pinnacle. However all is not as it seems and it isn’t long before the 10 contestants realise there is more than money at stake as the competition takes a very swift and sinister turn. As the body count piles up, the tension increases as you wonder who is next and who could possibly be orchestrating such an event. All unfolds over a fast-paced read and although the ending wasn’t entirely surprising to me, it was still good. 

I liked the characters - Raya in particular was my favourite - but I can’t say I fully cared for them which definitely brings my rating down a little. Although we learn more about them as the book progresses, I just found it hard to really root for the others. It was definitely interesting to learn about their backstories and why it was they ended up in this situation in the first place. 

The world itself is well-created and the descriptions of the landscape were vivid enough that I was able to easily envisage the scenery as I read. The book is definitely fast-paced and a lot does happen. The ending has also left itself open for a second instalment which I would definitely check out from pure curiosity of what will happen next! 

Thank you to Penguin Random House UK, Wendy Cross and NetGalley for my early review copy in exchange of a fair and honest review. 

What a masterful return to London and some of my favourite fictional characters! This novel seamlessly expands the Shades of Magic series: a large dash of magic, a thirst for power, adventures on the sea and flitting between worlds, this book was everything I hoped it would be and more! 

I flipping loved being reunited with the familiar faces of Lila, Kell, Rhy and Alucard - some of my all time fave characters. There were also plenty of new additions to love and loathe: Tes and Kosika are firmly up there! Not to forget Vares. 

Lots of great arcs written into this book with some firmly being threaded together and others being left open ended for the next instalment - I am already looking forward to returning to London!

A fast-paced, festive frolic with everything I loved about The Appeal. I adore the way these stories are told via the e-documents and how it leaves me being able to piece together the mystery for myself! I read this in one sitting and whilst it didn’t exactly knock my socks off it was still extremely enjoyable! 

Thank you to Viper, Janice Hallett and NetGalley for my early review copy in exchange of a fair and honest (late) review. 

3.5 stars

I found the first half of this book relatively slow. It didn’t quite grip me as much as I’d like but I was also intrigued enough to push through and I’m glad I did as the last third was much better. There were huge twists and turns which I loved but some of them also felt a bit too unbelievable!

Black Heat is one of those fantasy books that completely consumes you. I am a sucker for a fantasy book with women in power so this was right up my street from the very beginning.

Our three leading ladies come from very different walks of life: Marzal the heir to the throne, Rayn the fierce blacksmith and Elena the gentle midwife. All three of them are absolutely badass in their own way. 

I loved reading the different POVs and seeing how their stories ultimately come to a head in a thrilling climax. My only gripe is that it’s a standalone and I’d quite like to read more from this world! 

Thank you to Hachette UK, Bex Hogan and NetGalley for my early review copy in exchange of a fair and honest (late) review.