Most Anticipated Books For October / Book of the Month

The eagle-eyed among you may have noticed that I didn't do a post for August. August is such a busy month for me that I don't get enough time to blog properly, so apologies for missing it out. And I have some super books to gush over about for October, which I hope you will add to your ever growing TBR list. So let's get on with it. 

1) Haunt Me by Liz Kessler

I honestly think this is the best book she ever written. If you love earlier YA, going back to Alyson Noel's Evermore series, then you will love this book too. 

Published by Hachette Books

Summary

Joe wakes up from a deep sleep to see his family leave in a removals van. Where they've gone, he has no idea. Erin moves house and instantly feels at home in her new room. Even if it appears she isn't the only one living in it. Bit by bit, Erin and Joe discover that they have somehow found a way across the ultimate divide - life and death. Bound by their backgrounds, a love of poetry and their growing feelings for each other, they are determined to find a way to be together.

Joe's brother, Olly, never cared much for poetry. He was always too busy being king of the school - but that all changed when Joe died. And when an encounter in the school corridor brings him face to face with Erin, he realises how different things really are - including the kind of girl he falls for.

Two brothers. Two choices. Will Erin's decision destroy her completely, or can she save herself before she is lost forever?

2) Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

By the time you read this, I'm hoping to have got my hands on a copy of this book! I literally cannot wait to read this. It will probably become more obvious as you read down the post, but I LOVED the first book, Six of Crows so much that I can't wait to read the sequel. 

Published by Hachette Books

Summary

Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and left crippled by the kidnapping of a valuable team member, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets―a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of magic in the Grisha world.

3) Barefoot On The Wind by Zoe Marriott

I don't care that this book came out last month and putting it in here. The reason being, is that Zoe is an exceptional writer and this is yet another beautifully written novel to accompany Shadows On The Moon.  It's a dark and magical retelling of Beauty and the Beast and it is awesome. 

Published by Walker Books 

Summary 

There is a monster in the forest... 

Everyone in Hana's remote village on the mountain knows that straying too far into the woods is a death sentence. When Hana's father goes missing, she is the only one who dares try to save him. Taking up her hunting gear, she goes in search of the beast, determined to kill it - or be killed herself. 

But the forest contains more secrets, more magic and more darkness than Hana could ever have imagined. And the beast is not at all what she expects...

4) I'll Be Home For Christmas by various authors. 

This book is filled with some of #UKYA's finest authors. Each author has written a short story based on the theme of home with at least £1 from every copy going towards the charity, Crisis. It's an important book and one that everyone should read. 

Published by Stripes

Summary

The UK's top Young Adult authors join together in this collection of new stories and poems on the theme of home. Contributors include: Tom Becker, Holly Bourne, Sita Brahmachari, Kevin Brooks, Melvin Burgess, Katy Cannon , Cat Clarke, Juno Dawson, Julie Mayhew, Non Pratt, Marcus Sedgwick, Lisa Williamson and Benjamin Zephaniah. GBP1 from the sale of every book will be donated to Crisis, the national homelessness charity. To find out more about Crisis, see www.crisis.org.uk

5) The Deviants by CJ Skuse

I love everything that CJ writes, so I honestly can't wait to read this one. Every story she writes keeps me entertained and rushing towards the final paragraph. 

Published by Mira Ink 

Summary 

Growing up in the sleepy English seaside town of Brynston, the fearless five - Ella, Max, Corey, Fallon and Zane - were always inseparable. Living up to their nickname, they were the adventurous, rowdy kids who lived for ghost stories and exploring the nearby islands off the coast. But when Max’s beloved older sister Jessica is killed, the friendship seems to die with her.

Now years later, only Max and Ella are in touch; still best friends and a couple since they were thirteen. Their lives are so intertwined Max’s dad even sponsors Ella’s training for the Commonwealth Games. But Ella is hiding things. Like why she hates going to Max’s house for Sunday dinner, and flinches whenever his family are near. Or the real reason she’s afraid to take their relationship to the next level.

When underdog Corey is bullied, the fearless five are brought back together again, teaming up to wreak havoc and revenge on those who have wronged them. But when the secrets they are keeping can no longer be kept quiet, will their fearlessness be enough to save them from themselves? 

****

So my book of the month is... Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Without a shadow of a doubt, Six of Crows was the best book that I read last month. It was one of those books you can't put down and that you even dream about. Not only did I love this book, I lived through it! I don't think any book will be able to top it this year. It is the most outstanding read so far. Now you can see why I'm desperate to read the sequel! 

Summary 

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums. 

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes. 

Kaz's crew are the only ones who might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Joost had two problems: the moon and his moustache. 

He was supposed to be making his rounds at the Hoede house, but for the last fifteen minutes, he'd been hovering around the south-east wall of the gardens, trying to think of something clever and romantic to say to Anya.

Published by Indigo in September 2015

Pages - 465

Summary

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums. 

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes. 

Kaz's crew are the only ones who might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first.

******

If you're ever in the middle of a reading slump, this is the book you want to read to get you out of it. I haven't lost myself in such an outstanding book and invested all my emotions in every character for quite some time. I couldn't read anything else while I was reading it, because I was so caught up with the characters and the world.  I think the last one might have been The Night Circus. Giving Six of Crows five stars on Goodreads, honestly doesn't do it justice, I want to give it ten out of five!

If you haven't guessed yet, I'm seriously in love with this book. I've always enjoyed fantasy but never really thought it was my thing, but after reading this I'm willing to invest all my energy in fantasy books from now on. 

I read the first couple of books of Bardugo's  Grisha series and enjoyed them but I never got around to finishing them. I will definitely go back and reread the series from the beginning. If you compare this book to the Grisha series though, you realise very quickly that Leigh Bardugo has seriously upped her game as this is the best book she has ever written. 

The book revolves around Kaz, known as Dirty Hands, who has a sinister Artful Dodger style personality. He can't be trusted and doesn't show emotion to anyone... to begin with. He pulls together the most colourful and interesting motley crue he can find, each with a past and a hidden reason why they want to help him. Each member is worth getting to know because they are all so well written. The book is told from multiple perspectives and I really think it adds so much depth to the story because you really get involved in each character's world and you are rooting each member's own agenda. 

The plot is intricate and Bardugo must have invested many months in getting it perfect, because it is flawless. As a writer, it's one of those books I want to keep re-reading and picking it to bits to see how this epic story is put together. It also makes me think, why am I bothering to write, because I  will never be able to create a book like this. 

The Grisha world is so detailed and beautifully created, you have a hard time believing it doesn't actually exist. I'm starting to wonder if Leigh Bardugo has a magical entrance to another plane where the World of Grisha actually exists. 

This book is set in Ketterdam, which has strong resemblances to a historical Amsterdam.

The first chapter surprised me, because we never see the characters in it again, which feels like it goes against everything I've been told about the set up of a story. Until you realise that the main character is there, boldly owning the first chapter, because the main character of this book is jurda parem. Jurda parem threatens to change the Grisha world forever. It is deadly and must be stopped. Kaz is only interested in the money he will receive for rescuing the creator of jury parem, but the rest of his employees have different reasons for helping him. 

I loved the relationships within this book. I don't want to say too much about these because I don't want to spoil it for you as these relationships aren't obvious or clear cut from the beginning of the story. 

 I honestly can't wait for the sequel, Crooked Kingdom, which comes out on September 27th! I've not been this excited about a sequel since the last Harry Potter book! 

If you love a good heist along the lines of Ocean's Eleven, but from a fantasy perspective, this is the duet for you!

Twitter Picks (3)

A brand new feature on Serendipity Reviews for 2015!

Inspired by Friday Finds from, Should Be Reading. A chance to showcase all the books that have caught my interest on Twitter in the last couple of weeks. Please feel free to post your own finds and use the button if you would like to join in.

Six of Crows (Dregs 1) by Leigh Bardugo found via @lbardugo

Published by Indigo in October 2015

Leigh Bardugo is an amazing author and I look forward to reading her new series.

Book Summary

Game of Thrones meets Ocean's Eleven in this brand-book in the world of the Grisha by New York Times-bestselling author Leigh Bardugo.
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...
A convict with a thirst for revenge.
A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.
A runaway with a privileged past.
A spy known as the Wraith.
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.
Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first.

The Quality of Silence by Rosamund Lupton found via @clarahdiaz

Published by Little Brown in July 2015

I loved Rosamund  Lupton. I am a big fan of Sister and Afterwards, so I am really pleased to see she has a new book coming out this year.

Summary

On 24th November Yasmin and her deaf daughter Ruby arrived in Alaska.
Within hours they were driving alone across a frozen wilderness
Where nothing grows
Where no one lives
Where tears freeze
And night will last for another 54 days.
They are looking for Ruby's father.
Travelling deeper into a silent land.
They still cannot find him.
And someone is watching them in the dark.

Day Four by Sarah Lotz found via by @hodderbooks published in May 2015 by Hodder and Stoughton.

Summary

Four days into a five day singles cruise on the Gulf of Mexico, the ageing ship Beautiful Dreamer stops dead in the water. With no electricity and no cellular signals, the passengers and crew have no way to call for help. But everyone is certain that rescue teams will come looking for them soon. All they have to do is wait.
That is, until the toilets stop working and the food begins to run out. When the body of a woman is discovered in her cabin the passengers start to panic. There's a murderer on board the Beautiful Dreamer... and maybe something worse.

Siege and Storm Blog Tour - The Order of Fabrikators and Giveaway

As a member of the GRISHA HONOUR GUARD, we are  marking publication of Leigh Bardugo’s SHADOW & BONE in paperback, and the first publication of SIEGE & STORM, each day by celebrating the unique and incredible skills of The Grisha, the magical elite of Ravka.

The Grisha Orders

The Grisha are the magical elite of Ravka, also known as the soldiers of the Second Army. They practice the Small Science: they manipulate matter at its most fundamental levels. I like to think of it as a magical version of molecular chemistry. Status is everything to the Grisha, and the three main orders are: Corporalki (The Order of the Living and the Dead: Heartrenders and Healers), Etherealki (The Order of Summoners: Squallers, Inferni and Tidemakers) and Materialki (The Order of Fabrikators: Durasts and Alkemi).

Personally, I’m a member of the Materialki, the Order of Fabrikators. I’m a Durast and wear  a uniform of purple and gray, unlike the Alkemi who wear purple and red.  The Alkemi specialize in creating poisons, potions and blasting powders, while as a member of the Durast, I deal in more solid things, such as  clothing, body armour known as corecloth and Grisha Steel. Together we are known as the Materilki and you will normally find us working hard in the labatories creating the latest products. Not that we get that much respect for it. But one day we will be respected…. Though I don’t think I’m alone in being a member of the Fabrikator - Leigh Bardugo, the author who brought our story to your attention would fit quite nicely into our Order.

Leigh said,'As much as I'd like to believe I'm a badass Corporalnik, I'm a Fabrikator at heart—happy to be tucked away in the quiet of my workshop, totally immersed in my own world.’

I’m not sure if I’ve given you a clear enough picture of what the Fabrikators are really like, so  I think this extract from Siege and Storm will paint a better picture and provide you with a an understanding of how we work.

Some of my fellow Fabrikators have been very busy creating designs for badges for everyone out there who wishes to support the people of Grisha Honour Guard. Here are a couple of my favourite ones.

Aren’t these gorgeous? They were created by Adam F. Watkins. For his complete collection, please click here.

One of the head Fabrikators has created a stunning array of jewellery inspired by the Grisha Honour Guard. Vivi  sells these items at  Hebel Designs.

Materialki: Alkemi Leather Cuffs

Gorgeous Grisha Key Chains.

My personal favourite : The Sun Summoner pendant.

The designer Vivi had this to say about her designs.

‘Inspiration for the Grisha line came from reading the book and wanting to get more involved with the fantastic world Leigh created. I based the Order symbols on the crests already existing, so the Fabrikators symbol was a particular challenge because and it had many elements difficult to translate to an actual jewellery piece. Also, they [Fabrikators] produce so much. Grisha steel, keftas, props etc. We finally decided to use the "fans lifeline" and make them participants in the final design. I always propose initial designs to Leigh who has an active feedback until I get it right.”

If you would like to see more of Vivi’s designs, please click here.

If you want to know more about the Grisha Honour Guard then visit the awe inspiring Pinterest site set up to honour the publication of Siege and Storm.

Also check out Leigh Bardugo’s Pinterest boards as they are amazing.

**********

GIVEAWAY

In honour of the publication of Shadow & Bone and Siege & Storm, we are giving away an awesome prize to one winner.  A signed (via bookplate) copy of both books alongside an order keyring from Hebel Design.  This competition closes on the 21st June and is open to the UK and Ireland. All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is leaving your email address in the comments section.

I hope you enjoyed learning about the Fabrikators. Please check out the next stop on the blog tour at Book Trust tomorrow.

The Day I Met... Leigh Bardugo

Last Tuesday I was invited to Waterstone's Piccadilly to meet Leigh Bardugo, the debut author of The Gathering Dark. The Gathering Dark is an amazing read and you can find my review here. 

On arrival, we were offered wine and cakes alongside a rather special cocktail, although I couldn't tell you what was in it. 

 The gorgeous Nina Douglas, one of the most hardworking publishing people I know, dressed suitably for the occasion in a ushanka, a traditional Russian hat, to celebrate the Russian influence in the story. 

 Nina introduced Leigh before Casey from Dark Readers showed her the tribute film she had made especially to celebrate the book and Leigh's visit to the UK. 

 Casey actually made Leigh cry, which brought tears to my eyes too. Casey's video can be shown at the bottom of the post. 

 Leigh was lovely and very down to earth. I think she is still quite stunned that she has finally got a book published and is definitely living the dream. I came away quite inspired by her. She talked about how the story came to be after being frightened in the pitch black one night over Halloween. 

 She discussed her journey to publication and talked about how supportive other authors had been to her. 

 Leigh also read a small passage from the book 

It was a lovely evening - thank you to Nina Douglas for inviting me. Thanks also to Waterstones Piccadilly for holding such a fabulous event. Also a big thank you to Leigh for being so inspirational and making me believe I can never give up writing.

The Big Break with Leigh Bardugo

As part of the tranatlantic blog tour, I am so happy to have Leigh Bardugo on the blog discussing her journey to publication. 

Hi Leigh, thanks for joining me today on the blog.
My pleasure! Thank you so much for having me.

I would love to know a little about your writing journey. How did you go from being a makeup artist to writing books? 
I've been writing since I was a kid, and it was always what I dreamt of doing. (This is a drawing that my friend Gamynne did of me at a book signing when I was 14, so there's your proof.)

I worked as a journalist and a copywriter, but when my dad passed away, I knew I needed a change. I had to get away from the computer and out of my head. So, I quit my job, went to makeup school and started fresh. The funny thing is, I don't know that I ever would have written The Gathering Dark if I hadn't stepped so far off the path I was on. When I got home from a day of writing copy, all I wanted to do was watch SYTYCD and go to sleep. When I got home from a shoot, my feet were sore, and I was tired, but my head was bursting with ideas.

The cover of The Gathering Dark is drool worthy. How do you feel about it?
I'm so glad you like it! It was a bit of a shock because it's so very different from the US cover. (The German cover is completely different, too!) But it's so exciting to see Alina brought to life and to get a glimpse of how someone else pictures her. (Plus how much do I love that blue and gold kefta?)

Can you tell us a little bit about the book for my readers who have yet to set eyes on such a delight?
The Gathering Dark is set in a fantasy world inspired by the beauty and brutality of Tsarist Russia. At its heart, it's the story of a lonely, difficult girl, desperate to find her place in the world, who discovers that she may be the one person who stands between her country and destruction. Also, saints, samovars, and some really spectacular party clothes.

The Gathering Dark is your debut novel. How are you feeling about it all right now?
Well. Right now, it's about 4 am. (Somehow, in my last round of revisions I got on this insane schedule and I don't seem to be able to shake it.) There are days when I'm giddy with excitement and others where I feel something akin to abject terror. I'd call these mood swings, but I'm not sure that encompasses their scale.

How long did it take you to write?
From the initial idea to querying agents, it took about a year. I spent part of that time researching, part of it wallowing in self-doubt and watching the afore-mentioned SYTYCD.

What was your first reaction when you found out your book was to be published?
I was grocery shopping when my agent called to tell me that we'd had our first offer. The sound I made can be best described as something between a screech and a bleat. I got a lot of stares, and I can't say I cared. I abandoned my cart and went outside to sit down, take some deep breaths, and talk it through with Jo. She explained what our next steps would be, and a week later, we were at auction.

Did you find it easy to get an agent?
I'm always wary of answering this type of question because I don't want people who are out there in the trenches to get discouraged if they don't get snapped up right away. I got an agent quickly, but I also got very lucky. I queried the right person at the right time in a very hot market. Yes, I wrote the best book I could, I did my research, I agonised over my pitch. But you can do all of that and the timing can still be wrong. If things move slowly, try not to beat yourself up. Query in small batches so that if you don't get the response you want, you can go out to other people with a modified pitch. It's great if lightning strikes, but it isn't some kind of judgement on your work if it takes a little longer for your book to find the right home. Okay, pep talk over.

How long was it between the initial deal and publishing day?
We signed the deal with Henry Holt/Macmillan on December 3, 2010 and the US release is June 5, 2012. So, almost 18 months exactly. I had no idea it took that long to bring a book to market.

I understand that this is Book 1, how many books will be in the series?
Three, though I do sometimes think I'd like to write a prequel about the founding of the Second Army and the creation of the Fold. There are also some secondary characters from Book 2 whose stories I'd love to tell somewhere down the road if there was interest.

I know you are writing Book 2 at the moment, how is it going?
In a way, writing Book 2 was much harder because, unlike Book 1, I had a deadline and there were people waiting on the other side of it with expectations. I was terrified of disappointing everyone. But I did finish, and it was lovely to learn that I actually can do this, and that completing Book 1 wasn't some kind of fluke. Now it's just difficult not to be able to talk about it. I want to blab spoilers all over the place.

How do you fit writing around your other career as a makeup artist?
Badly? I'm a freelance artist, and that means that, if you aren't constantly hustling for new jobs, the work dries up pretty quickly. While I'm on deadline, I go into lock down mode and I've had to turn down some good jobs. But I just can't bring myself to regret those decisions. I'll always keep my toe in the business. I love talking product and it's fun to be able to trick out my friends in glitter and gore on Halloween. But writing is what matters to me. The rest is noise.

What advice would you give to aspiring and unpublished authors?
Just finish. Let that first draft be messy. If you don't know how to deal with something, don't get on twitter and talk about it, don't get bogged down. Write the question into the draft and keep moving. Murder doubt. Murder distraction. Murder perfection. Just finish.

Thank you Leigh for inspiring answers. The Gathering Dark is available to buy now. I have read it and loved every word of it!


To find out more about Leigh Bardugo:


Twitter: @LBardugo
Website: http://www.leighbardugo.com/

The Gathering Dark by Leigh Bardugo

Pages - 437
Published by Indigo in May 2012

The servants called them malenchki, little ghosts, because they were the smallest and the youngest, and because they haunted the Duke's house like giggling phantoms, darting in and out of rooms, hiding in cupboards to eavesdrop, sneaking into the kitchen to steal the last of the summer peaches. 
Goodreads Summary
Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee. 
Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling. 
Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.

*******
You can't write a review of this book without commenting on the gorgeous cover! It is absolutely drool worthy and I fell in love with it long before I read the synopsis for the book. Luckily the gorgeous cover suits the gorgeous  writing and I was bowled over by this book. This enticing tale of darkness and light took my breath away with its uniqueness and originality.  I was left wanting more. 
At the heart of this book, is  a beautiful love story. As soon as Alina and Mal appeared on the first page, I was drawn to them. The  unrequited love that Alina has for Mel made my heart melt. He doesn't see how she feels for him for quite some time and you feel so sorry for her. They were just made to be together. I loved the way their relationship developed throughout the book, how their relationship became stronger with each hurdle they faced.  I have to admit to be strangely attracted to The Darkling throughout the book. He was so dark and mysterious in an evil kind of way. 
The world building in this book was amazing. The originality left me astounded. The great detail in which the world had been built left me in awe of the author's talent. I was worried that some of the terminology would be lost on me, but within the first couple of chapters  I knew exactly who was who and  understood their positions in the Grisha. The Grisha really appealed to my inner magician. I loved how naturally powerful they were.  I  don't think I have ever come across anything like the Shadow Fold before. The sound of impenetrable darkness is extremely eerie. The creatures living in it, sounded vicious and frightening. 
I loved the Russian flavour to the book.  Not a country I know a lot about, but the evidence was clear. On reading the acknowledgements it became clear which Russian tales had inspired such a beautiful tale. 
I felt like I fell into this book and was lost from reality until the final page; a sign of a talented story teller who draws the reader in and sucks time away from them. 
I can't believe I have to wait so long for the next book. I simply must know what happens next.