Andi is broken. She is failing school and failing life. Since the death of her brother, all she cares about is her music. Taken to Paris by her estranged father she discovers a guitar and a lost diary from Revolutionary France.

I have to say that I really love books that bring in some history to it and this was no exception. The way the book flicked between what was happening to Andi and how she was dealing with the death of her brother and the diary of Alexandrine in France in the 1790’s was done very well and you never got the impression that the history bits were forced on you. You got to know Alexandrine really well in her passages and found yourself willing Andi to read a bit more each time so like her, you could find out what was happening. Jennifer Donnelly really captured the smell and feel of France of that time and bought the fear that Alexandrine must have been feeling to the reader and so got you really involved with her character.

I also really warmed to Andi and her struggles with coping with loss and guilt. I would have liked a bit more back history of the relationship with her Dad but you certainly got the impression of the teen angst she was feeling. I enjoyed the musical side to her and found myself wanting to know about Malherbeau who she is doing her thesis on. So much so I actually googled him!

The only part of the book I did not enjoy was the “dream” sequence. I am unfortunately of the age where I can remember Bobby Ewing and the shower dream in Dallas and this is what it felt like. It all felt a bit forced and I would have preferred it done in a better way. That said I did enjoy the book and I will now look for more books set in the French Revolution.



This was my first Jennifer Donnelly book and it certainly won’t be my last.

I reviwed this book for http://www.bookangelbooktopia.com/ so thanks again to Emma for the great book.

Drawing Light by Julia Green

This is my first book by Julia Green and I have to say how much I enjoyed it. She writes with such imagery that she makes the whole book feel alive.




The book is centred around Emily whose life is going through some changes. Her big sister Kat is going away to University, her Dad and step mum Cassy are doing up his dream house which means the three of them have to live in a caravan in the middle of winter and best of all she meets a boy. On top of all these she starts to get curious about her Mum who left her when she was just two years old.

Emily is a photographer who likes to take photos of trees and this is where Julia Green’s imagery really opens up. When she describes how the trees look it is like you are standing in front of them about to take the photo yourself. In fact the way she captures Emily’s eye for details is wonderful and you really see and feel what the characters are feeling.

The story between Emily and Seb, the boy, is also heart warming as this is her first boyfriend and you really get the feel of some of the awkwardness that can happen with first loves. It is down to him and an argument that Emily starts to have the desire to look into her Mum and find out why she left her.

I got totally involved with all the characters in the book and found myself wanting just a little bit more about them especially Cassy and her relationship with the girls. I did feel that although this was a book about Emily and her growing up and finding herself it would have been nice to find out abit more about them.



As for my first Julia Green book I loved it and can hardly wait to delve into her world again especially if she brings the imagery of this one into her other books.


I reviewed this book for http://www.bookangelbooktopia.com/ so thanks Emma for the loan of the book.

The Liveship Traders 1 Ship of Magic

I have to say that when this book was chosen by my Book Club my heart did sink a little. A fantasy book is not really up my street although I have dabbled in some Terry Pratchett, Mort being a particular favourite! When I downloaded it onto my kindle and saw that it was a tomb of 880 pages my heart sank a little deeper. But hey this is what book clubs are about and reading new authors and genres that I wouldn’t necessarily pick up.




In a nutshell the trilogy is about a fleet of ships called Liveships that are made from wizard wood and after three generations of their owners living and dying on them they quicken and come to life. The first book is mainly focussed on the Vestritt family and their ship called Vivacia but we also have a few other plot lines thrown in. There is Captain Kennitt who wants to be the Pirate King, Brashen who sailed on Vivacia until the new Captain takes over and the old liveship Paragon who most think has gone insane and is stranded on a beach sightless.



I have to say that I really enjoyed this book, so much so that I am going to get the next two instalments as I need to know what happens. There are a lot of characters with their own tales and although at the start this can be a little confusing it all comes together and you find yourself wanting to know what is happening to each of them and growing more and more involved with them. I have to say that Captain Kennitt was a particular favourite of mine even though he was the most unlike able character from the start. I do think that as I read it I had Captain Jack Sparrow in my head and this is why he grew on me!

I think that Robin Hobb is a great story teller and the fact that she has written some great female characters in a story that is mainly dominated by men is a real eye opener. She gives all her female’s a core strength that is very enjoyable to read. I am very keen to find out what happens to Althea who is the lead female in the book. She shows great strength in trying to get her ship back so much so that she dresses as a boy in order to gain experience on other ships and to prove her Brother in Law wrong. But she can also be too headstrong and even gave up on Vivacia when she needed her most.  I will enjoy seeing which parts of her character will evolve as the books continue.

For a book I wasn't sure about I can't wait to download the next two on my kindle and see where the story takes me.