A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms by George R. R. Martin

Title: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Author: George R. R. Martin
Publisher: Bantam
Release Date: 6th October 2015
Genre: Fiction, History, Fantasy

Summary: 
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms contains the first three prequel novels of the A Song of Ice and Fire book series. The short stories take place almost a century before the series, when the Targaryen family were still in rule of the Iron Throne.


Review:
So, I finally finished my postgraduate dissertation which means I can do things like read, eat and sleep again! Seeing as the world is in a Game of Thrones hype at the moment, when I saw this collection of short stories - it went straight in my shopping basket!

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J. K. Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne

Title: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Author: J. K.  Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne
Publisher: Little, Brown
Release Date: 2016
Genre: Screenplay, Young Adult, Fantasy

Summary:
Alongside the premiere of the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play in the West End, the screenplay has also been released  alongside it. The play takes place nineteen years after the last Harry Potter book and follows the adventures of the next generation of Hogwarts students including Harry's son, Albus Potter.

Review:
I was fortunate enough to get tickets to see a preview performance of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child before it's opening night. I therefore already knew the play and its' plot. However, I wanted to read the screenplay too as (obviously) I wanted to have the complete collection of Harry Potter books and to see what those fans who did not get tickets to see it, would read and how they would compare. There was a big difference.

Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs

Title: Library of Souls
Author: Ransom Riggs
Publisher: Quirk
Release Date: 22nd September 2015
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction

Summary:
Jacob, and his peculiar friends, are in London in search of their beloved Miss Peregrine and friends. They soon find themselves in Devils Acre searching the labyrinth of alleys. However, Jacob soon becomes a hot commodity as more and more people learn about his ability putting Emma and their quest in jeopardy.

Review: 
Library of Souls  is the final instalment (I believe and hope!) in the Miss Peregrime's Peculiar Children series (reviews of the other two books Miss Peregrime's Home for Peculiar Children and Hollow City can be found here and here). I have a few issues with the series in general, like that it seems to be tailor made for adaptations for films (which is not necessarily a good thing) and the story seems to have been dragged out over three books just for the sake of it.

Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

Title: Hollow City
Author: Ransom Riggs
Publisher: Quirk
Release Date: 24th February 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Thriller, Fantasy

Summary:
After fleeing their beloved island, Jacob and his peculiar friends journey to London in search of help for Miss Peregrine. However, can they stay ahead of the army of hollows and wights on their heels?

Review:
I read a book (finally)! I got Hollow City, the sequel to Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (review can be found here), back in October for my birthday and thanks to the Christmas break - I have finally gotten around to reading it.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Title: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Author: Ransom Riggs
Publisher: Quirk
Release Date: 7th June 2011
Genre: Young Adult, Thriller, Fantasy

Summary:
Jacob grew up surrounded by the weird and marvelous stories his grandfather told him of peculiar children with weird powers. However, when Jacob witnesses a monster murdering his grandfather - the stories he was told as a boy become a mysterious reality.

Clues lead Jacob to an island in Wales, where he discovers; a peculiar orphanage, his grandfather's past and the monstrous danger he was running from his whole life.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Title: Insurgent
Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: 6th November 2013
Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Summary:

Unrest is tearing the long-established faction system apart and the ideologies of those in power is corrupting Tris's family, friends and world.

Haunted by the horrors of the last simulation, Tris must carry on and fight for the right cause, whichever that is.

But will she survive and at what cost?

Review:

Okay so I was not a big fan of the first book in the Divergent series (which you can read here) but I watched the filmed and loved it.

A Dance With Dragons 1: Dreams and Dust by George R. R. Martin

With travelling to California (again) and university assignments, it has taken me a while (a month) to read this book. However, going to Disneyland, Hollywood and Huntington Beach was way more fun than reading... soz! Anyway, at long last, here is my review...

Title: A Dance With Dragons 1: Dreams and Dust
Author: George R. R. Martin

Publisher: Harper Voyager
Publication Date: 15th March 2012
Genre: Dark Fantasy

Summary:
New wars are raging in the North and East.

With a Kingslayer on the run, a dragon princess without her dragons and a bastard son about to rule, there is never any rest when playing the Game of Thrones.

Review:
A Dance With Dragons 1: Dreams and Dust is very much the same as all of the other books in the A Song of Ice and Fire series. However, where I got bored and tired of the plot and characters in the other books; this installment seems to be picking up... at long last!

A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin

Title: A Feast for Crows
Author: George R. R. Martin

Publisher: Harper Voyager
Publication Date: 15th March 2012
Genre: Dark Fantasy

Summary:

The battle in the Seven Kingdoms is dying down and the Lannisters have claimed their place on the Iron Throne. However, with houses seeking revenge for their dead, and the sordid antics of the Lannister children spreading, their reign is crumbling away...

Review: 

Okay, so I have not enjoyed the A Song of Ice and Fire series that much recently, and I was not expecting much from this installment - particularly as my boyfriend forewarned me that this book was pretty boring - but I thought this book was actually okay...ish.

A Storm of Swords 2: Blood and Gold by George R. R. Martin

Title: A Storm of Swords 2: Blood and Gold
Author: George R. R. Martin
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Publication Date: 1st September 2011
Genre: Dark Fantasy

Summary:
It is all going down in Westeros...

(I really cannot be bothered)

Review:
I made the grave mistake of reading two books from the Song of Ice and Fire series in a row.

I did not get off to a great start with this book in the series, because of the TV programme, Series three of the popular HBO series finishes just after the start of this book, so several major events which happen in this installation - I already knew about. Very helpful, ey? So, if you are reading the book, and then watching the corresponding series (like me) you are best to skip the first one hundred pages - it will save you a lot of time and patience.

A Storm of Swords 1: Steel and Snow by George R. R. Martin

Title: A Storm of Swords 1: Steel and Snow
Author: George R. R. Martin
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Release Date: 1st September 2011
Genre: Dark Fantasy

Summary:
The Kingdom of Westeros has never been more divided. The Starks commanding the rebellion in the North and the Lannisters crippling the South with their greed and pursuit for even more power.

However, shadows are creeping in from all directions threatening the two pursuits for the Iron Throne.

Review:
Finally, I built up the stamina to take on the next book in the Ice and Fire series and, it was much the same as the other books in the series.

The Hogwarts Library by J. K. Rowling

Title: The Hogwarts Library

Author: J. K. Rowling

Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens

Release Date: 8th November 2012

Genre: Non-Fiction-Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy

Summary:

Ever wondered what it is like to study at Hogwarts? 

Well now here is your chance to read the mystical and weird text books that Hogwarts students have to read!

Review:

On one of my many visits to the Warner Brothers Studio Tour London, I bought the Hogwarts Library. This collection, which was written by J. K. Rowling (under the names of made up authors) for Comic Relief some years ago, contains three books; Quidditch Through the Ages by Kennilworthy Whisp, Fanstastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander and The Tales of Beedle and the Bard. As they are are essentially Non-Fiction books set in a Fictitious world, I think the genre classification, Non-Fiction-Fiction seems most appropriate?

A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin

Title: A Clash of Kings
Author: George R. R. Martin
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Release Date: 1st September 2011
Genre: Dark Fantasy

Summary:
War is coming as five nobles stake their claim for the most coveted chair in Westeros - the Iron Thorne - a prize is so sought after it turns family into foe, and friends into enemies.

Review:
It may have taken me two weeks, but I have finally finished reading the second book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series! Running a book blog and working full-time on a placement year, is not as easy as I thought it was going to be...

Anyway, whilst it did take me ages to finish it - I enjoyed every page of the book and cannot wait to read the rest of the series!

Echoes of the Past by Deborah Mailer

Title: Echoes of the Past
Author: Deborah Mailer
Publisher: Endeavour Press
Release Date: 30th January 2014
Genre: Crime, Thriller

Summary:
Tom Hunter has been in the police-force all his life, dedicating his life to solving crimes and catching criminals. After a serious heart attack and the death of his wife, he moves to the small, unassuming village of Coppersfield along with his daughter, Jess.

However, when Hunter looks into a series of unsolved disappearances; their haven is soon disturbed by creepy goings-on and supernatural beings.

Review:
When I started reading this book, I thought it was going to be a simple, crime/thriller. Oh no no, how I was wrong... Instead of being a simple crime novel, the plot incorporates ghosts too...

A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

Title: A Game of Thrones
Author: George R. R. Martin
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: 23rd December 2010
Genre: Dark Fantasy

Summary: 
In the Land of Westeros Winter is coming and the struggle for the Iron Thorne has begun.

Review:
I was not sure what I was expecting when I was persuaded to start reading this series but I did not think it was going to be as good as it actually is.

It is awesome and it is easy to see why it has become so popular.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: 28th February 2012
Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Summary:
Becoming sixteen is a big deal for all teenagers.

For Beatrice Prior, however, at the age of sixteen she must make a life-changing decision that will change her whole world for she lives in a society divided my factions.

She must choose where she belongs and prove herself to her new "family". Her decision, however, has deadly consequences.

Review: 
I decided to read this book after my best-friend raved about it constantly. However, I was not impressed with her taste in books (which is usually impeccable) this time as I had two major issues with it...

Let The Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist

Title: Let The Right One In
Author: John Ajvide Lindqvist (translated by Ebba Segerberg)
Publisher: Quercus
Release Date: 22nd January 2009
Genre: Horror, Thriller, Crime, Fantasy

Summary:
Oskar is 12. He is a wimp. He has no friends, dad or courage and is constantly lonely.

Eli is 12 and has been for sometime. She has no friends and only ventures out to the playground at night.

Review:
I have to admit, I read this book a while ago so it is not a recent read; but, I have always loved this book and it started my addiction to foreign horror and crime- so I thought I would give it a quick review.

My favourite aspect of book, is the gory horror which is present throughout. Whilst some writers shy away from the details, writers such as Ajvide Lindqvist present things how they are in such a twisted, scary, disgusting but nonetheless fascinating way. These details make this book a staple of the genre and a must for all horror fans (another prime example of this is Jo Nesbo, and his Harry Hole series; he, however, deserves a post all of his own here...).

Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch

Title: Broken Homes
Author: Ben Aaronovitch
Publisher: Gollancz, Orion Publishing Group
Release Date: 25th July 2013
Genre: Fantasy, Crime, Young Adult 

Summary:
Peter Grant is back in the fourth installment in the Rivers of London series, in which we find our heroic, magical Policeman venturing South of the River to Elephant and Castle.

With an already hectic caseload, the last thing Grant wants is trouble on a housing estate with the work of the Faceless Man all-over-it. It is then Grant's duty to make sure nothing explosive happens...

Review:
When I originally posted my review of the first installment of the series, Rivers of London, (you can find my review here) I had no intention of writing any for the subsequent books, as I felt it was such a good series. However, even though the series started with such optimism; I really struggled with this installment and felt it was necessary to write a follow-up.

Virals by Kathy Reichs

Title: Virals

Author: Kathy Reichs

Publisher: Young Arrow Books, Random House

Release Date: 27th October 2011

Genre: Young Adult, Crime, Supernatural

Summary:
Virals is the first in a series of books which follows, the budding, young explorer, Tory Brennan as she explores Morris Island (a secluded island off of Charleston in South Carolina). After stumbling upon the grave of a young girl, Tory and her friends are catapulted into a world of lies, murder and deceit.

After rescuing a young, wild dog on the very same island; they discover that the two incidents are linked. However, Tory and her friends soon become victims of a dangerous infection which changes them beyond belief...

Review:
Virals, and the other books in the series, are my guilty pleasure. They may be cheesy but they are well-written and engaging for all ages! I have no idea why more people do not know about them!

Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch

Title: Rivers of London (aka. Midnight Riot)

Author: Ben Aaronovitch

Publisher: Gollancz, Orion Publishing Group

Release Date: 25th August 2011

Genre: Fantasy, Crime, Young Adult

Summary:

Rivers of London is the first of a series of books which follows London policeman, Peter Grant, as he enters the secret underground world of magic and supernatural beings. Can he stop the ghosts and ghouls from wrecking havoc on the streets of London? Only time will tell...

Review:

After reading this book, I was confused as to why it isn't as well known as it should be! 

The tongue in cheek style of writing highlights the satirical nature of British humour well and the balance between romance, crime and supernatural beings is perfect. You can certainly tell Aaronovitch used to work in a book shop, as the combination and balance of themes is perfect for young adults!