Two fantastic stories

Two brilliant tales, once again not a single disappointment. It was nice to see the Queens as young girls, growing up together and being taking in by their fosters, heartwarming and filled with the dark undertones of what to come. The Oracle Queen surprised me though, but what else should I have expected. Nothing is at it seems in Fennbrin. I hope in the next book though they somehow manage to set things right for poor Queen Elsabet. Fans of the series will love this and if you haven't read Three Dark crowns yet, this is a fantastic beginning. Full of love, friendship, betrayal and all the politics of court.

After reading TGGTVAV (which was incredible and everyone should read it at somepoint regardless of what your genre of novel is) I could not wait to get my hands the sequel! It took more time to get around to reading it but when I did I struggled to put it down. I loved Felicity so much from the first book so it was interesting to see the world from her point of view - she is smart, passionate, witty, sarcastic and I resonate so much with her. I love how, like her brother Monty she finds herself in such insane situations. The story flowed fast, and easy which was nice - not pages and pages of weeks of travel from A to B (I find the tend to spoil the mood of the novel unless something interesting happens.) The story was refreshing, and I loved how it included the old crew from the first book, along with a bunch of new characters. The book played out in a movie in my head, perfect in every way.
MORE PLEASE 😁

Overall I really enjoyed this bind up. It's been a while since I've read buffy novels but when I first started reading, apart from Harry Potter with my mum, the buffy novels were the only books I chose from the library for myself. So now I've made a mental note to read ALL of them, in order. Although this book isn't in order really, i have all three bind ups and the larger part of this bind up was a story I haven't read, while the others were rereads, although I read them over a decade ago they still felt newish.

I'll try to keep it relatively spoiler free -

Coyote Moon - this was my least favourite of the three. Although the story flowed quickly like an episode of buffy, it was a bit.. I'll guess I'll use the word sloppy. I get it that teenagers are fully of hormones but I find it hard to believe that willow would ditch buffy so easily for a guy she just met. Xander, I understand he would. There was alot of unnecessary explanation points at the end of spoken sentences in which there was no need. It gave the impression that characters were hysterical when the conversation was just a normal conversation, or at times making it out that characters, mainly buffy were panicked by mundane things. The story itself was interesting - a carnival, skinwalkers, a mystery, which itself made up for its flaws. 3/5

Night of the Living Rerun - I vaguely remember reading this a while back but it still felt new to me. It was an interesting read, especially with the gang having different flashbacks to major players in (this version) of the salem witch trials, one being a witch and a slayer. I liked this version that the author changed a bit of the witch mythology, making them darker and "in league with the devil/whatever deity they actually worshiped, staying true to the puritan beliefs of what witches actually were. It was a bit confusing to be honest as at first I believed the baddies (not going to say who, but if you've read it you know) were trying to summon the devil. But then mentions of the Master and the "despised one" made it a confusing mess and it wasn't exactly clear who they were trying to summon. Then the flashbacks? Dreamstates? Well whatever they were with the Master just felt a bit... cheesy. The devil himself giving The Master a trophy? Also the fact that at this point the master was trapped beneath Sunnydale, but then how come he was aparantly sucked down into hell in 1692? How did he get out? It was unclear on if the Master and the despised one were one in the same or different entities. But I'm a sucker for anything to do with witches, especially the Salem variety. Again this felt like an episode of Buffy, quick and fast paced, with plenty of that famous 90s humour and slang. Overall another great story with minor flaws, the characters felt true to the series and it was wrapped up nicely, if not a little too quickly. 3/5

Portal through time - my faveorite out of the bunch, and also the longest, taking up almost half of the book itself. The main reason I loved it so much because there was so much going on, and it was pretty dark in my opinion. (I mean come on. A three year old got cut down the middle with an ax). This was the first one out of the three to directly feature Angel, although he was mentioned in the other two. The plot was interesting and intense and giving how the vampires of the buffy verse aren't always the smartest when it comes to master plans, this plan sure was inspired. Instead of opening from the veiw point of Buffy, it followed the vampires for a few chapters before it switched back over to the scoobies. From there they do kind of stumble onto the plot rather quickly but that's okay - the fact that this narration takes us to multiple time periods and timelines, and we get to meet different slayers overpowers that. This was also the only one to really feature direct references to different episodes "inca mummy girl, the pack, the harvest, the puppet show, prophecy girl." Also the fact that buffy "never wants to meet Angelus" means that this takes place in season 2 - sometime after Inca Mummy Girl and before Angel turns. Although no mention of Spike and Drusilla. The way the author describes these different time periods in a fast paced way, made me feel like I was not only there but I could feel the urgency of the scoobies. I enjoyed that we briefly got to see a vampire Cordelia, which was pretty hysterical, and also a cameo from Darla and Angelus. 5/5

Overall, the entire bind up was a delight to read and I don't mean to sound too harsh in my review. It's the buffy verse which means endless possibilities and each author delivered a unique story in their own personal styles which any fan of the tv show will enjoy. I do highly recommend this to any buffy fan and as a plus the cover is absolulty stunning.

Awwww I really enjoyed this. I love any story about witches or that has a wiccan theme to it so I am thrilled I discovered this book. It was an incredible story about friendship, high school cliques and drama, and about how most teenagers struggle to find themselves and how everything is not always how it seems. And obviously, Witchcraft, undead zombie not zombie friends and a bad ass biker coven all tangled up in a mystery of "who dunnit"

I loved the fact that the narrator of the story wasn't your typical pretty skinny white girl that also dealt with the fact of how hard it can be to be a minority ethnicity in a small minded town - and how cruel kids can be. The themes in this story were endless, and it truly made the story something special.
It was a fast paced story with loads of tiny twists and turns, with no way to tell how it would end, but it was clear whatever the outcome it would be a bittersweet ending. I feel like you wouldn't even need to have an interest in magic or that to enjoy this book. I'm hopeful for a sequel but got no idea how that would work but still, I'm hopeful.

Blessed be to the Undead Girl Gang! R.i.p Riley, Dayton and June.

Something truly special.

I'm not sure what I expected going into this book - I love Adam Silvera and knew without a doubt I'd love this novel- I meant I had no idea what to really expect from the story. I kind of want into it blind considering how much I loved the authors other work but I didn't expect the story to hit so deep. Although the story is fiction, the events (minus the mind altering clinic) are no doubt very real to some people and that hit me hard. A young boy, growing up in a rough part of Queens, who can't be himself for fear of his life. That they are people out there who attribute listening to "Girl songs" or playing female superheroes on a video game to being gay baffles me, but I know for a fact this is a reality a lot of young LGBT men and women face.

I feel like I should warn you there is a few undertones of suicide so if that is a trigger for you then this book is not for you. But it is also a really touching story of friendship, family, trust and self discovery.

In terms of the story (I'll try to keep it spoiler free) it was beautifully written and flowed really quick. This wasn't your typical coming of age novel in the traditional sense. I thought it be about someone who got their mind altered to be straight ( did not see the twist coming) but it was so much more. We follow Aaron, who is sixteen and growing up in Queens, trying to keep his life together with his friends and girlfriend after his dad's suicide, but then he meets a new guy called Thomas and out of nowhere everything he thought he thought he knew about himself for certain begins to change. Money struggles, teenage angst colliding headfirst with the reality of the adult world.

I feel like this was an incredibly important book for anyone because it showcases the fact that everyone can be unhappy to a certain degree, and we all struggle, but it's okay not to be okay. But it is important that you trust your friends and family and talk to them. Because even if you could get your mind altered, all the trauma, pain, heartache, scraped knees and broken bones also does with love, friendship, laughter and great memories, and all of it together makes you who you are, and that the only one capable of making yourself happy is you. Memories can be painful but they are important.

I loved this book so much. It made me laugh and tear up and I tore through page after page and I highly recommend this to anyone. It's not as doom and gloom as I make it out to be, it's more a happy story than not. (Ha see what I did there?) And once again Adam Silvera has shown me why he is one of my favorite authors who I hold with such a high regard.

Way way better than the movie. Considering I saw the movie first (which I really enjoyed) I don't know why I had reservations about reading the novel but I'm so glad I did. Both are vastly different, in a good way.

The book flowed so easily for me. I admit I'm not really into futuristic style novels as I have a hard time picturing it in my head but Ready Player One was really easy to imagine. Not only was the story completely unique and immersive, it was like an introduction to vintage and 80s pop culture. I enjoyed all the little facts and how they fit in with the story and the "game". It was really well thought and and creative and at no point did the story lag with unessesary plot points or conversations. The OASIS is an amazing place and I can't fault this novel in any way and it's made me want to read anything related or mentioned in this work of brilliance. (I've already ordered Neuromancer). Also of the games mentioned I played once or twice while growing up which made me feel nolstagic for my childhood. (I'm an early 90s baby)

If you loved the film, you will love this novel and if you haven't seen the film, you will love this novel. It has something for everyone and even though it has a lot of pop cultural references, it does not get confusing or tedious in any single way.

I'm not going to lie, this broke me

A fast paced novel that tugs at the heartstrings, especially when you remember that something like this is actually a modern reality for most and sadly, a common occurrence. Marieke Nijkamp tells this story with a fearless sensitivity, which I applaud. It was difficult to read and I can only imagine it was difficult to write but this was an important story to tell. We all see it on the news but it's different to read it in a minute by minute series of events. Although it was non fiction it heavily borders the line on reality, the story told in a tactful, meaningful way, instead focusing more on family and friendship, and community coming together in times of a tragedy such as this.

We're not in Oz anymore...

The wizard of Oz was one of my faveorite films as a child but I must say, I enjoy the darker twisted versions of Oz more, as it makes the story more interesting. Less fairy tale and more real. Like the shows Tin Man and The Witches Of Oz.

Having Dorothy come back to Oz as a villian was an epic twist in my opinion, turning a beloved fictionary character into a tyrannical ruler. Oz completely flipped on it's head...

I loved every second. The story felt familiar but yet completely new - as nothing in Oz is what it was or what it seems. As a reader I literally trust no one and nothing; Page has created and recreated characters and filled the world with a heavy air of unease and trepidation, and that anything can happen at any giving moment. The fear I felt like it was my own and the anxiety stayed with me throughout.

The Scarecrow is creepy as, the Lion is terrifying and the Tin Man (although I did feel some sympathy for him) was twisted as anything. Although none of them were as bad as Dorothy. Pure evil. I liked how although everything was disguised as sickly sweet and smiles. It was unnerving.

I enjoyed reading about the other witches, especially Glamora (I was never really a fan of Glinda anyway) and Nox... oh my Nox. If Amy doesn't want him I'll have him!

Amy was an excellent protagonist to follow. From being thrown into All this mess without asking for any of it and deciding that it was her job to help kill Dorothy because it was the right thing to do. I do love a good underdog story.

I can't wait to see what the rest of the story holds and I'm sure there will be plenty of turns and heartache.

But, the witch must burn. Long live the Wicked!!!