MORE THAN THIS - PATRICK NESS

A boy drowns, desperate and alone in his final moments. He dies.

Then he wakes, naked and bruised and thirsty, but alive.

How can this be? And what is this strange deserted place?

As he struggles to understand what is happening, the boy dares to hope. Might this not be the end? Might there be more to this life, or perhaps this afterlife?

More Than This is one giant, exhilarating mouse chase. It leaves you guessing until the end, and even long after the book has finished. Patrick Ness uses a technique both evil and smart, in that he leaves most chapters on a cliffhanger. If you put down the book, you will be itching to pick it back up again.

Every character in this story is mysterious. From the Driver to Seth, they all have their mysteries and secrets attached to them. Some secrets will unravel throughout the book, but others remain secrets to the reader. Whilst this can be frustrating at times, it is also an interesting way to allow the reader to form their own conclusions and impressions about the characters. The Driver was the most interesting character, which is funny, as it does not speak throughout the book. I have my theories on the Driver and its connection with Seth, but I'm going to leave you to form your own theories yourself. 

The story was fast paced throughout and very creepy. However, it also has a heart and is very touching in places. The story deals with themes such as sexuality, abuse, escapism and fear in various ways. I feel these topics were handled well, both in the obvious appearances in the book as well as the abstract.

Overall, More Than This is a must read. It keeps you on your toes throughout and shocks you in ways you may not even fully understand. Ideal for anyone who is looking for a fast paced, sci - fi / mystery, with amazing characters and deep themes explored.

5/5

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS FILM REVIEW

Based off of the book by John Green

Screenplay by: Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber

Directed by: Josh Boone

Starring: Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Natt Wolf

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

5/5 Stars

WE WERE LIARS - E. LOCKHART

We are the Liars.

We are beautiful, privileged and live a life of carefree luxury.

We are cracked and broken.

A story of love and romance.

A tale of tragedy.

Which are lies?

Which is truth?

The biggest question I face with writing this review is … where to begin?

I could tell you what this book is about, but then I would have to lie to you. After all, the mystery of this book is finding out what it is about.

This story is the epitome of an enigma wrapped in a mystery. Who are the Liars? What happened to Cadence? Is anything in this book even true?

Lockhart delivers this story with a beautiful yet creepy use of metaphors and imagery which will leave you torn between squirming in your seat and admiring the talent behind the cleverly crafted messages. The story itself may start all over the place, but by the end all the loose ends are tied together in such a shocking twist, it's like a punch in the stomach.

The characters are so fascinating to explore. You never really know who is good and who is bad in this story, as they all have, what I think is fair to say, huge flaws that complicate matters and situations in the book. This further adds to the mystery of the whole story. 

However, whilst the twist is brilliantly executed and it's the thing everyone is talking about, part of the fun of the book is also coming up with your own theories about the story. I came up with several, but thankfully none proved to be correct.

To say anymore would be a crime against this story. All you really need to know is that you have to read this book.

Pick up this book. Read this book. And wait for the lies or wait for the truth …

5/5

REBECCA NEWTON AND THE SACRED FLAME - MARIO ROUTI

In the beginning, the ancient Gods created not just the earth. They also created three other worlds: the Elysian Fields, a paradise where they themselves live; Tartarus, the dark world of demons and Titans, ruled over by the ancient deity Cronus; and finally the Land of the White Sun, where all the heroes and creatures of myth dwell – Centaurs and Minotaurs, Cyclopes and Gorgons, Amazons and flying horses! In this land the Creator planted the Sacred Flame, the Cosmic Source that keeps the universe in balance and must be protected from the Dark monsters and Evil Gods who desire to seize it, in order to destroy all the worlds. Hearing that Rebecca is charismatic, Turgoth, ruler of the kingdom of Beast, arranges for her abduction. When the two of them come face to face, they realise that there is a strange bond between them and their destinies become entwined forever. But although they start to share deep feelings for each other, they are doomed to fight on opposite sides…

 Rebecca Newton and the Sacred Flame is an exciting, mythical adventure that fans of Percy Jackson and Throne of Glass will enjoy. The Greek myths and legends are cleverly woven into this story, which does not fail to shock and surprise. Its strengths lie in the storyline itself. It is fast paced and thrilling and will leave you wanting to read on to find out what happens next.

 However, whilst the plot is exciting, the characters fall a bit flat. The main character, Rebecca Newton, whilst is a great role model in her strength and kindness, appears to be a bit too perfect and therefore, unrelatable. The characters' motives are also difficult to figure out and they change their mind a lot without any particular reason. This makes it difficult to become fully invested in the characters.

 Having said this, the story plays on the theme of good and evil, which is interesting to read about. The lines of good and evil in this story are extremely blurred and no character is explicitly one or the other. This creates an interesting dynamic within the story and this theme is handled very well.

 Overall, this was a very good story with weak characters. It is ideal for someone who wants a quick and enjoyable read, with a great exploration of Greek mythology.

 3/5

CINEMA HORROR STORIES

To start off this blog, here is my latest video on Cinema Horror Stories.

Enjoy!

INTRODUCTION

Hi there! My name is Emma and this is my blog. This blog will cater for book reviews and a few film reviews, and will be paired with my Youtube channel.

This is me. If you come here from Youtube: Hello, thank you for checking out my blog :D If you have just stumbled across my blog: Welcome :D All my reviews are 100% my opinion, regardless of whether I've been sent the book or not. I hope to speak to many of you and build this blog up with many great book recommendations. I hope you enjoy this blog, Em x