THE BOOKTHIEF by MARKUS ZUSAK (2006)

Title: The Book Thief

Author: Markus Zusak

Pages: 552

Published: Mar 14th 2006

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

We'd have this book lying around the house for some while. I know my mum had tried to read it but didn't really get caught up in it. I considered it for a while, but I've never really been into WWII books. We then got a list from the school about books to read over the summer and it was on that list. So I thought well, why not.

I was captured. I cried so much during this book. So much. But I laughed as well. If only Rudy could have gotten that one kiss. If only Max had not gotten so sick. If only that bomb hadn't dropped just then. If only...

Full with emotions, ideas and messages this book is worth a read. No matter if you like the genre or not. It is not actually that much about the war, but more about the relationships built up in the novel and they're not boring but full of joy and heart break. Definitely worth a read. Definitely.

Plot Summary:

Here's a small fact

You're going to die.

1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding it's breath. Death has never been busier.

Liesel, a nine-year-old girl, is living with a foster family of Himmel Street. Her parents have been away to a concentration camp. Liesel steals books. This is her story and the story of the inhabitants on her street when the bombs begin to fall.

Some important information

This novel is narrated by Death

it's a small story about:

a girl

an accordionist

some fanatical Germans

a Jewish fist fighter

and quite a lot of book thievery.

Another thing you should know

Death will visit the book thief three times.

Favourite Quote:

The only thing worse than a boy who hates you: a boy who loves you.

My Rating:

10/10

I know I say this a lot, but I feel very strongly about this book. 

THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR by NICOLA YOON (2016)

Title: The Sun is Also a Star
Author: Nicola Yoon
Pages: 348
Published: Nov 1st 2016
Publisher: Delacorte Press


I received this book from Penguin Random House UK in the form of a Kindle Book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. These are my own opinion and thoughts.

I haven't read a contemporary young adult book that has had me so hooked in a good while. This book was impossible to put down. If you are ever struggling to get out of a reading slump I highly recommend picking this up. The chapters are short and fast moving and had me at full attention.

'The Sun Is Also a Star' by Nicola Yoon follows a day in the life of Natasha and Daniel, two teenagers in New York. During this extraordinary day Daniel manages to convince Natasha to give him the chance to make her fall in love with him through science.

This book was beautifully written from first person perspective in respective character's chapter. Sometimes the chapters were written from the universe point of view or random people who's perspectives are vital to understand for the plot.

I can't emphasise enough how important I believe it is for young people to read this book. It's not just about boy meets girl, even though it is that simple on the surface. It's about a million possibilities and our choices in life, about art and science and love.

Plot Summary:

NATASHA: I'm a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I'm definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family  is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won't be my story.

DANIEL: I've always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents' high expectation. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store - for both of us.

THE UNIVERSE: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?

Favourite Quote: 

"Sure, but why not more poems about the sun? The sun is also a star, and it's our most important one. That alone should be worth a poem or two." - Natasha

My Rating:

10/10

Never before has the term 'opposites attract' been more accurate.

Other Books by Nicola Yoon:

Everything, Everything

The Sun is Also a Star

HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE by J.K. ROWLING (1997)

Title: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's StoneAuthor: J.K. RowlingSeries: Harry Potter #1Pages: 223Published: Jun 26th 1997Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Uhm. Favourite series. Favourite book in series. Don't know what else to say. I love the ghosts and the part with Norbert, the Norwegian Ridgeback and I think it's a shame that it's not included in the films. I absolutely love this book because although half of the book is not even taking place at Hogwarts that much half of the story is about how Harry gets to Hogwarts in the first place and I love that part. I also absolutely adore the friendship that builds up in this book. I don't think I have more to say. You know it all.

I read it first in Swedish when I was nine. We had the first three ones at home and when I picked it up I was like: WOW, what I challenge, this is gonna be solo cool!! I was so proud of myself when I finished the first page I had to call on my mum. Then I finished a whole chapter. I finished the book late at night a few weeks later (I don't know how long it took me). I have finished all of the books late at night. Just a coincident you know.

Plot Summary:

Harry Potter thinks he is an ordinary boy. He lives with Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia and cousin Dudley, who make him sleep in a cupboard under the stairs. Then Harry starts receiving mysterious letters and his life is changed for ever. He is whisked away by a beetle-eyed giant of a man and enrolled in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The reason: Harry Potter is a wizard!

My Rating:

10/10

Favourite Quote:

You're a wizard, Harry! - Hagrid

Other Books in the Series:

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Harry Potter #1)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter #2)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter #3)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter #4)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter #5)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter #6)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter #7)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Harry Potter #8)
The Tales of Beedle the Bard (Harry Potter novella)
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Harry Potter novella)
Quidditch Throughout the Ages (Harry Potter Novella)

Other Books by J.K. Rowling:

Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them - The Original Screenplay
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindewald - The Original Screenplay
Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies (Pottermore Presents #1)
Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeist (Pottermore Presents #2)
Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide (Pottermore Presents #3)
J.K. Rowlings Wizarding World - The Dark Arts
Harry Potter: Magical Skies: Enchanted Scene with Transfers
Harry Potter: Night Journey
Harry Potter: Magical Tales about the Wizarding World
The Sorting Hat
Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
The Magical Congress of the United States of America
The Casual Vacancy
Very Good Lives: The Fringe Benefits of Failure and Importance of Imagination
Becoming Myself: Reflections on Growing up Female
The Cuckoo's Calling (Cormoran Strike #1) as Robert Galbraith
The Silkworm (Cormoran Strike #2) as Robert Galbraith
Career of Evil (Cormoran Strike #3) as Robert Galbraith
Lethal White (Cormoran Strike #4) as Robert Galbraith

FANGIRL by RAINBOW ROWELL (2013)

Title: Fangirl

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Pages: 481

Published: Sep 10th 2013

Publisher: St. Martin's Press


The title itself got me hooked and after pointing it out in WHSmith I got it for Christmas. This book understands me! I've never felt so extremely okay with myself or generally understood by a book, author and character. When you're on your last year of school and preparing for uni all these fears and uncomfortable situations that Cath feels start haunting you. It's exciting and absolutely terrifying. I can say now, that after a year of uni, it really isn't that bad - it's awesome. But that doesn't stop those initial feelings, and if anyone understood those awkward thoughts that you feel like only you are feeling, it was Cath. That's apart from all the fangirling that is also totally relatable. I don't write or read fan fiction, but this book made you want to - I especially wanted some Cath and Levi fan fiction.

And don't even get me started on Levi. He is pure heaven. I always considered my favourite romantic hero to be Will Herondale from the Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare. I have officially decided to share that title with Levi. His new name is 'All-Time-Favourite-Young-Adult-Contemporary-Romantic-Hero-That-I-Wish-Was-Mine.' Not that I wan't him to break up with Cath. I totally ship them. I'm just saying I'd like a piece of that. And their first romantic scene is the best and cutest romantic  scene there ever was!

There is so much dialogue which is great cause I'm more of a dialogue person than a description person. They chat plenty, and it's funny to read. Why did this book end!? I read this while on holiday in Florida and I brought it along to everything. And I was laughing constantly - it's highly entertaining - to the point that my brother took it to read it after I had finished. I don't think he enjoyed the Simon Snow extracts as much as me though. Those extracts made me really desperate to know what was happening with Simon and you'll be pleased to know I've read 'Carry On' as well. I do recommend reading this book before 'Carry On', just because you will understand the nature of 'Carry On' better and appreciate it more I think.

Plot Summary:

Cath and Wren are identical twins and until recently they did absolutely everything together. Now they're off to university and Wren's decided she doesn't want to be one half of a pair any more - she wants to dance, meet boys, go to parties and let loose. It's not so easy for Cath. She would rather bury herself in the fan fiction she writes where there's womanise far more intense than anything she's experienced in real life.
Now Cath has to decide whether she's ready to open her heart to people and new experiences, and she's realising that there's more to learn about love than she ever thought possible...
A tale of fan fiction, family and first love
-back of book

Favourite Quote:

'In new situations, all the trickiest rules are the ones none bothers to explain to you, (and the ones you can't google).'

My Rating:

10/10
One of the best Young Adult Contemporaries out there

Other Books by Rainbow Rowell:

Fangirl
Carry On
Eleanor & Park
Landline
Attachments
Kindred Spirits
My True Love Gave To Me
Almost Midnight

CARRY ON by RAINBOW ROWELL (2016)

Title: Carry On

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Pages: 528

Published: Feb 25th 2016

Publisher: Macmillan


After reading Fangirl I was very excited to read Carry On as I wanted to know more about Simon. Simon is a fictional character whom Cath writes fan fiction about on the book Fangirl. During uni she writes the fan fiction "Carry On Simon" as if though it was the eighth book in the Simon Snow series (yet to be published). In Cath's version, Simon and Bas (his least favourite friend and room mate) have a romantic relationship, so naturally there are some Simon and Bas love scenes in Carry On and it's so so good!

I felt like Carry On was a bit of a parody of Harry Potter and Twilight. Simon is the chosen one and he attends a magic boarding school but it's much more relaxed and funny. It's absolutely hilarious. It's kind of a light hearted version.

I suggest you read Fangirl first, to get the background story of this book. If feel like it would be more appreciated that way. Even though the book is obviously by Rainbow Rowell, I felt like I was reading fan fiction by Cath and it was an amazing feeling.

Plot Summary:
Simon Snow is the worst chosen one who's ever been chosen
That's what his roommate, Baz says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right.
Half the time Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he sets something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day wit all this, if he were here - it's their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother to show up.
- back of book

Favourite Quote:

'I didn't care if magic was real at that moment. Because roast beef and Yorkshire pudding are fucking real as rain.' - Simon

My Rating:

9/10

Other Books by Rainbow Rowell:

Fangirl
Carry On
Eleanor & Park
Landline
Attachments
Kindred Spirits
My True Love Gave To Me
Almost Midnight

MIN TYP BRORSA by JOHANNA LINDBÄCK (2010)

Title: Min Typ Brorsa (My Sort Of Brother)

Author: Johanna Lindbäck

Pages: 268

Published: Dec 2010

Publisher: Rabén & Sjögren

Language: Swedish

This is such an enjoyable Swedish young adult about a girl and a boy who start having feelings for each other after their single parents move in together. It's sweet, funny and a little bit heart wrenching. You hope for something you know will never be but the journey there is absolutely wonderful. Writing this review makes me want to reread it because it's so sweet and innocent. Highly recommend for all the Swedish speakers out there as a light romantic read, whether it be a summer or winter read. It's so cute. Absolutely love what these characters go through and their relationship.

Plot Summary:

Celebrating New Years with Mum's new guy isn't exactly what Nina dreamt of. And that Mum talks about the fact that internet-Thomas has two sons exactly in Nina's age isn't helping. But New Years turns out to be better than Nina could've imagined. Thomas's sons are pretty alright. Especially the one...

My Rating:

9/10

Other Books by Johanna Lindbäck:

Min Typ Brorsa (My Sort Of Brother)

Tänk Om Det Där Var Jag (Imagine If That Were Me)

Välkommen Hem (Welcome Home)

En Liten Chock (A Small Shock)

Som Om Jag Frågat (As If I've Asked)

Saker Som Aldrig Händer (Things That Never Happen)

Lite Ihop (A Little Together)

Kanske Ihop (Maybe Together)

Karta För Förälskade och Andra Vilsna

Jan Svensson (Jan Svensson)

Vi Måste Sluta Ses På Det Här Sättet (We Need To Stop Seeing Each Other Like This)

LETTERS TO THE LOST by BRIGID KEMMERER (201

Title: Letters to the Lost

Author: Brigid Kemmerer

Pages: 393

Published: Apr 4th 2017

Publisher: Bloomsbury

I got this book from WHSmith as it was buy one get one free with the Zoella Book Club. I didn't get the whole Book Club set but got this one together with 'After the Fire' by Will Hill. I couldn't help myself, they looked like such good summer reads.

I was in the middle of reading the Percy Jackson books and although I truly wanted to finish the series I couldn't stop thinking about how much I wanted to read Letters to the Lost so I simply took a break and how long did it take me to read this book? One day. ONE DAY. I was hooked.

The idea behind this book itself is so original and clever. Who thinks of something like this. Naturally I was sat there the whole book knowing more than the characters (dramatic irony!!) because it was written from both Juliet and Declan's point of view. I loved this layout and it kept my interest going the whole way through. The letters and the two different perspectives allows to the reader to know more about the characters. I know Juliet through herself, through Declan's point of view and through the letters she writes. I don't think I've ever connected so much with characters and they are so deep, so three diminutional - so real.

Although I cannot say that I have gone through any of what Juliet or Declan has gone through (I have not lost a family member) I can say that I truly value the opportunity to write to someone I trust. It may be over text and it may not be anonymous, but Cemetery Girl's and The Dark's openness with each other reminded me of a friend I know I can talk to and that hit deep. 

But the book wasn't just deep and understanding, it was funny and it made me laugh. And it's a happy ending. In a way it's a happy story with just so many memories of pain. But it's their journey to getting better.

Minor Spoiler! This book has one kiss. One kiss and it's at the very end. There are no hot scenes or declarations of love, yet it's one of the truest love stories I have ever read. And I was so nervous through it all, so excited, but my head didn't scream "KISS HER!" This love was deeper than that and evolved from something more personal than just boy needs girl. Is this a fluffy romance? Yes, to an extent. But you won't get the romantic first date. You'll get something much more exciting.

Plot Summary:

Juliet Young has always written letters to her mother. Even after her mother's death, she leaves letters at her grave. It's the only thing that helps Juliet cope.

Declan Murphy is the kind of tough guy you wouldn't want to cross. But while on community service doing landscaping at the local cemetery, he is haunted by ghosts of his own past.

When Declan finds a letter left beside a grave, he can't resist writing back. Soon he is sharing his pain with a perfect stranger... Except they're not strangers, and when real life inter fears with their secret life of letters, Juliet and Declan discover truths that might tear them apart.

Favourite Quote:

"I didn't know you could feed a baby Thai food" - Declan

My Rating:

10/10

Other Books by Brigid Kemmerer:

Storm (Elemental #1)

Spark (Elemental #2)

Spirit (Elemental #3)

Secret (Elemental #4)

Sacrifice (Elemental #5)

Elemental (Elemental novella)

Breathless (Elemental novella)

Fearless (Elemental novella)

Strife

More Than We Can Tell

A Curse so Dark and Lonely

HÄR LIGGER JAG OCH BLÖDER by JENNY JÄGERFELD (2010)

Title: Här Ligger Jag och Blöder (Me On The Floor, Bleeding)

Author: Jenny Jägerfeld
Pages: 252

Published: Sep 17th 2010

Publisher: Gilla Böcker

One of my all-time favourite Swedish YA contemporary. This follows Maja and her relationship with her mum, for her mum has disappeared when Maja goes to visit her and she's the only one who doesn't care about the fact that Maja's sawed off half her thumb - by accident. Everyone else seems to worry about her missing thumb and in the midst of her disturbance about her mum and her dad's hurtful emails she meets Justin, who makes her forget.This story is so relatable sometimes that it hurts. I found myself crying plenty. Maja's parents are separated and unawares they both hurt Maja in their own way. It's a book about emotions and love. After having read this book I asked mum to read it, for several reasons. Because it's just such as a great and entertaining book, but also because it's emotional and it really puts certain feelings into words. You don't have to have parents living hours away from each other, having sawn off half your thumb, wear crazy and amazing clothes or show up uninvited to parties to be able to relate to Maja's story. This book is clever and hurtful in the way it's written and cleverly understanding.

I'd like to think that Jägerfeld's background as a child psychologist may have a role in how well she seems to understand her own character and how it gets young teenagers like myself. I read this when I was around 15 and it still feels accurate.

I know the title has scared people off, for it may refer to self harm which is still a tough subject to cover, but it's more of a hyperbole or a metaphor for Maja's feelings. If anything, you'll learn on the first page that she's bleeding because she's sawn off the tip of her thumb by mistake during DT, and if anything, it's quite humours. This book is available in English which makes me so happy cause it means you can get your hands on it on Amazon here.

Plot Summary:

High School outsider Maja would never hurt herself on purpose as her dad, teachers, and class mates seem to believe Can't a person saw off the tip of her thumb without everyone starting to worry? That is, everyone except Maja's mum, who seems to have disappeared of the face of earth.
- Goodreads

My Rating:

10/10

Other Books by Jenny Jägerfeld:

Här Ligger Jag och Blöder (Me On The Floor, Bleeding)
Jag Är Ju Så Jävla Easygoing (I'm Just So Fucking Easygoing)
Hål i Huvudet (A Hole In My Head)
Brorsan Är Kung! (Brother is King!)

Het
The Space In-between

HALF BAD by SALLY GREEN (2014)

Title: Half BadAuthor: Sally GreenSeries: The Half Bad Trilogy #1Pages: 380Published: Mar 4th 2014Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers


This book was such a page turner that I read it in a day and a half. It is written in such a captivating way you truly can't help but wanting to know what's happening next. Green is not in a hurry to tell the story but moves forward at a relaxed pace. Each part of the book is introduced, experience and then moved on from. It allows for a new equilibrium to be set in each new setting or part before it's disrupted. It's very cleverly planned out to hold onto the readers attention.

I don't have much to say other than this is quite different from what I've read before. It's a lovely interpretation on witches which I cannot wait to know more about. The plot doesn't follow the classic turning of sixteen or seventeen when one's life suddenly means life or death. It's more about Nathan's life as a whole, his childhood and upbringing until his seventeenth birthday when he officially becomes a which. It's pre-birthday, rather than post-birthday.

The relationships in this book are so amazingly developed. Nathan's relationship with his older brother Arran is one of the best sibling relationships I've read about. And in such contrast to his relationship with his sister Jessica. If you can't think of another reason to read this book read it because of that. And Celia of course. Although haven given me a bad first impression (as I'm sure she did with plenty of other readers) she actually doesn't appear to be the monster she's made out to be towards the end and the banter between her and Nathan truly lightens the mood at times.

A truly enjoyable book about witches in the modern world England. Quite a light read but plenty to keep you entertained.

Plot Summary:
You can't read, can'r write, but you heal fast, even for a witch.
You get sick if you stay indoors after dark.
You hate White Witches but love Annalise, who is one.
You've been kept in a cage since you were fourteen.
All you've got to do is escape and find Mercury, the Black Witch who eats boys.
And do that before your seventeenth birthday.
Easy.

My Rating:


7/10

I really did enjoy this book and it had me captivated.


More in this Series:

Half Bad (The Half Bad Trilogy #1)
Half Wild (The Half Bad Trilogy #2)
Half Lost (The Half Bad Trilogy #3)
Half Lies (The Half Bad Trilogy novella)
Half Truths (The Half Bad Trilogy novella)

More by Sally Green:

The Smoke Thieves (The Smoke Thieves #1)

SIMON & SOPHIE by EMMA GRANHOLM (2008)

Title: Simon & Sophie

Author: Emma Granholm

Pages: 224

Published: Mar 14th 2008

Publisher: Alfabeta Bokförlag


This book was purchased as part of a module I would study in Swedish while living in England.

This book is a classic popular girl meets bullied boy, they become friends, they fall in love etc. It was predictable. I knew the ending after having read the back of the book. But it wasn't so much about the excitement about how it was going to end. It was more of a feel good book, a light romantic read about friendship and love. Not too complicated, yet a message about standing up for the people you love.

It is not a book I highly recommend, it won't blow your mind, but it's sweet and innocent and enjoyable.

Plot Summary:

"For fuck's sake!"
Simon shouts out loud when he sees that Sophie is about to move into the neighbouring house. Sophie isn't just the school's best looking and most popular girl, she's also made sure that Simon is bullied. Is he not even to be free of her when he's at home?!
During the Easter holidays - when Sophie is alone and bored - she goes over to Simon's house. He's at first both surprised and irritated, but soon realises that Sophie is different than when in school. One evening she tells him something she hasn't had the courage to tell anyone before. But what's it going to be like when school starts again?
- back of Book*

My Rating:

7/10

Other Books by Emma Granholm:

Simon & Sophie (Simon & Sophie)
Ett Nytt Liv På Köpet (A New Life in the Bargain)
Liv & Lovisa (Liv & Lovisa)
Sjutton År och Skitsnygg (Seventeen and Hot as Hell)

*translated by me

JAG SAKNAR DIG, JAG SAKNAR DIG! by PETER POHL and KINNA GIETH (1992)

Title: Jag Saknar Dig, Jag Saknar Dig! (I Miss You, I Miss You!)

Author: Peter Pohl, Kinna Gieth

Pages: 272

Published: 1992

Publisher: Rabén & Sjögren


I received this copy from my friend just prior to the film coming out because she had an extra copy. It's a beautifully tragic story about the twin sisters Tina and Cilla. Early on in the book Cilla dies in a car accident and Tina is left without her. The story is about how Tina is coping with the loss of her sister. It is happy at moments only to bring out the saddens even more and it truly stings. The book painfully realistic and triggers feelings of sadness and anger.

After having read this I decided to read into the back story of the book. This book turns out to based on a true story where the co-author Kinna Gieth lost her twin sister Jenny is a car accident. The sisters had been reading a book by Peter Pohl about a situation where the character Anette's twin sister had died. Gieth wrote to Pohl after her sister's death and asked him to write a book with her about this situation and 'I Miss You, I Miss You!' was the result. I was surprised to learn that the book was published in 1992 as I got the feeling that it was taking place in today's society - it's time less, which I think it very successful.

I can truly see why this is a Swedish Young Adult classic. There is also a film which was made in 2011.

Plot Summary:

It's now the month of April and at home on in the Rose Garden, two girls are sitting. They're called Cilla and Tina. They're identical twins and they're going to turn fourteen this summer. But Cilla doesn't get to experience that - she's soon going to die in a car accident. It's the most sickening thing that's happened to me, and I'm telling you that straight away, because this isn't meant to be a thrilling story, with a clever ending that has to be kept secret until the last page, it's about Tina whom was left behind, forced to try to stand straight and keep her balance in life without Cilla. And I, who is telling you this, is Tina, but I don't know if I can cope by taking about 'me', so I say 'her' instead.
A timeless description about endless grief, but also about love and hope.
- back of Book

My Rating:

8/10

THE GATHERING by K.E. GANSHERT (2015)

Title: The Gathering

Author: K.E. Ganshert

Series: The Gifting #3

Pages: 379 (Kindle)

Published: Jul 1st 2015

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

I downloaded this book as soon as I finished the previous book, but took a break in between for an unknown reason. But the finale did not disappoint. Again, theres the pattern that I see a lot in sic-fi and dystopia. Where there is a broken society, the main characters seem to want to start a revolution, and though they seem to only be a couple of teenagers to start with they always end up being this huge organised group at a specific headquarters. Did The Gathering have this? You bet it did, and damn it was good. More things were revealed of the organisation and the people wight the Gift and it just got better and better. Action filled and so gripping.

There was death, betrayal, and in that sense realistic. The ending was happy, as happy as it can get when you're in this situation, but satisfying. The book got very complicated and if I think back at it I'm not sure I remember everything or can recall exactly the roles of different people. I suggest you pay attention while reading this book. The complicated bits were introduced in The Awakening but it doesn't stop there. This book appears very thought through however and there's an answer to every question, if you read carefully.

Absolutely amazing trilogy, and I have now found out that they are officially available in physical paperbacks (rather than just the kindle versions that I read). How amazing is that?! And the covers are the same, and gorgeous. Want to get my hands on them.

Plot Summary:

"Darkness is a tricky thing. Especially when it cloaks itself in light." Luka isn't dead. He's not beyond saving. Tess knows because she saw him with her own eyes. After what she saw, she's sure of one thing: If they don't rescue him soon, Luka won't be Luka anymore. If only she could convince the other members of the hub. They're not sure Tess saw what she claims she saw. And they're preoccupied by the fact that their kind is being systematically eradicated. Answers lie in an ancient prophecy, one that revolves around a seventeen-year-old girl who never asked for any of this. K.E. Ganshert's final installment in The Gifting Series brings readers on an action-packed journey through loss, sacrifice, betrayal, and the impossible choice between what we want most and what we know is right.

- Goodreads

My Rating:

9/10

Other Books in this trilogy:

The Gifting (The Gifting #1)

The Awakening (The Gifting #2)

The Gathering (The Gifting #3)

THE AWAKENING by K.E. GANSHERT (2015)

Title: The Awakening

Author: K.E. Ganshert

Series: The Gifting #2

Pages: 314 (Kindle)

Published: Jul 1st 2015

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Okay, so I bought this book as soon as I'd finished the first one. This book is thought through so well. I was really hooked. The hub is amazing and the characters are so interesting. I love the development between Tess and Luka and how Tess keeps on looking for her grandma.

The background stuff about the gifting is so cool. The Shields, The Linkers, The Cloaks and the Keepers along with the Fighters is really clever. The dream space is such a good idea and how they startle to get out of dreams. I'm so happy that Tess is special in the way that she is a Linker and a Fighter and that Luka is her Keeper. Could it get anymore perfect?!

I'm so grateful I even found this book, and the first for free on iBooks! It is to the same quality as Divergent and The Hungergames. No, I'm serious. I think it could be a really cool film, for real. It's real film material.

I have this feeling about trilogies and please feel free to comment, because I think it is a very interest concept (whether it is intentional or nor not it is a continuous pattern). Trilogies always start nice which a disequilibrium that is disturbing. Tess thinks she's mad and tries to make it through high school as she goes to her therapist and meets Luka. Tris is divergent and goes to get trained as a dauntless. Katniss gets selected for the Hungergames and makes her way through. However in the second book things get out of control. Tess and Luke escape. Tris and Four are on the run. (All these four letter names!) Katniss' war with Snow starts with the 75th Hungergames. And then in the third book is kind of just the same as the second in a way that it continues on this war. This is were the trilogy has totally moved on from the first book. It is nothing like the first book. Tess will never go back to high school. Tris will never go back to abnegation. And Katniss has no District 12 to go back to. I get this feeling of loss for the first book. Kinda miss the "cozy" feeling of Tess at high school, Tris in Dauntless training and Katniss in the regular Hungergames. Do you get me? Of course this is all part of the trilogy and it has to go this way or we would get bored and things develop and so on. But I was reading the third book of the Gathering (the book after this) and I realised that some characters will never show up again. They've moved on. And it's this strange feeling of for boding because you can never go back and nowadays books end pretty badly (and realistically I guess). Anyone who agrees or disagrees? Please feel free to comment. I don't know why I brought it up here of all posts but there you go. Might repeat it again separately some other time.

Plot Summary:

Tess Eckhart isn’t crazy. She’s not suffering from psychosis. She and Luka Williams are part of The Gifting. Before they can find out what that means, the man with all the answers turns up dead. The only thing he left behind? A few patient files that lead to the nation’s most lawless city.

With authorities chasing them, Luka and Tess escape into the very heart of peril and against all odds, find an underground community of people just like them. They aren’t gathered together for the sole purpose of survival, either. They have a plan and a purpose—to awaken as many people with The Gifting as possible. It’s dangerous and deadly work. Tess wants to help. Luka is desperate to keep her safe—a task that proves increasingly difficult as Tess’s gifting comes to light.

Is Tess Eckhart the One they’ve been waiting for? The One who can save them all?

Favourite Quote:

"A person can choose not to believe it, but that doesn’t make their soul go away. It’s there, whether they want to acknowledge it or not. The supernatural realm is just as real as the physical one, only you can’t see it. It’s the realm of good and evil, light and dark. From everything we can gather, these two forces are at war, and in order to join the battle, passageways are required." - Link

"That last option should make me rejoice, but I am a selfish creature." - Tess

"It’s true when they say knowledge equals power. After what I learned in the cafeteria, I feel like I have a handful of it in my back pocket.

And I want more." - Tess

My Rating:

10/10.
I cannot stress enough how much I love these books.

Other Books In These Series:

The Gifting (The Gifting Book 1)
The Awakening (The Gifting Book 2)
The Gathering (The Gifting Book 3)

THE GIFTING by K.E. GANSHERT (2015)

Title: The Gifting

Author: K.E. Ganshert

Series: The Gifting #1

Pages: 322

Published: Jun 1st 2015

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

I just read an amazing book! Like really cool and I'm dying. So I was looking for free books on iBooks and I found this one. For free! I was shocked because it looked pretty serious, not one of those free books on iBooks that are rubbish. Never judge a book by its prize!!! So well, it looked so intriguing. Again don't judge a book by its cover. But really this book looked like it met my standards. I know  I really would have wanted this book to have a place on my shelf in my bedroom, but when it's free and you don't have too much money to spend you have to convince yourself that in the end it's about the content not the medium of the book.

So it was wicked. It almost scared me at places, but more like it creeped me out. Not like horror. Just creepy. Abnormal. Literally.

The book was very well written. Chapters ending at the right point. The characters had the right attitude. I really  felt attached to Tess. Like she was a really good friend and I was intrigued. Furthermore, Luka was perfect. What else can you wish for. Don't have anything else to say about that. I love the relationship between Leela and Tess. I think it's really cute and real. Leela is kind, caring and fun, she's human and I think that's vital. I think often in books, the friends are not paid enough attention to or rather they are not really given a personality. They are either really girly in order to make the protagonist not girly at all (because somehow that makes them more special) or just vague somewhere in the background in order for the protagonists to appear to have a high school life. But Leela is given a personality, whether it's girly or not, she is still human, and I really appreciate that.

Plot Summary:

In a world where no supernatural excises, Tess Eckhart is convinced she's going crazy. After her complete freakout at a high school party, her parents worry she might be right. So much that they pack their bags and move across the country, next to nationally-nenown facility for the mentally ill.

Tess is determined to fit into her new school, despite the whispers and stares. But when it comes to Luke Williams, a reluctantly popular boy in her class, she's unused to a stare that intense. Then the headaches starts, and the seemingly prophetic dreams that haunt her at night. As Tess tries harder to hide them, she becomes increasingly convinced that Luka knows something - that he might somehow be responsible.

But what if she's wrong? What if Luka Williams is the only thing separating her from a madness to terrifying to fathom?

Favourite Quote:

"Just because a lot of people believe something doesn't make it true"

My Rating:

10/10
Guys, I was hooked. If anything, this reaches the standard of The Hungergames and Divergent. It might just take some time for people to realise.

Other Books In These Series:

The Gifting (The Gifting Series Book One)

The Awakening (The Gifting Series Book Two)

The Gathering (The Gifting Series Book Three)

The first book only came out in June 2015 so I'm surprised that all the books are already out, but that doesn't matter, cause that just means I can finish them all ASAP.

Get the first book on iBooks now for free while you can! The rest are just £3.99 which, tbh, isn't a lot at all cause that means you can get both books for the price of one in the bookshop.