Marie Lu returns to the world of Legend, the series which made her a bestseller, in this incredible novel. Rebel is the return we've longed for, and the conclusion we all desired. From the blurb; 'It's time for the final chapter... 'Eden Wing is a brilliant inventor and top student at his academy in Ross City, Antarctica. But most people still know him only as Daniel Wing's little brother. 'A decade ago, Daniel was known as Day, the boy from the streets who led a revolution that saved the Republic of America. But these days he's all too ready to leave his past behind. All that matters now is keeping Eden safe - even if it means giving up June, the great love of Daniel's life. 'As the two brothers struggle to accept who they've become, a new danger creeps into the distance that's grown between them. Eden soon finds himself drawn so far into Ross City's dark side, even his legendary brother can't save him. 'At least, not on his own...' The blurb alone is enough to get lovers of the Legend series excited, and Rebel does not disappoint. Lu throws us back into Daniel and June's lives a decade after the explosive events of Champion, and what we had all thought was the end to this series. It is with bittersweet joy that we discover, through switching perspective of three main characters, June, Daniel and Eden, that these characters are not exactly where we had thought they would be after all this time. Lu brings us back to her reality, revealing that though battles are won, life does not suddenly turn into a fairy-tale, as as she dives back into the action with these battle worn hero's we are left once more on the edge's of our seats, hoping for more for these characters, who, over the years, have grown into our friends. Based in Antarctica, Rebel exists in a world we both know and equally know nothing about. This ensures that the whole novel is captivating. There is no point in which the reader feels as if they've already been through this. Of course our characters have changed a bit too, they've grown up, and stepped into new positions, some with more grace and ease than others, yet despite this by far maturer cast Daniel and June are still very much the same people, and it is with open arms that we welcome them back into our lives. Impossible to put down Lu races us through this novel, keeping us guessing and hoping and longing for the entire journey and then, in the very final moments, rewards the readers who have fallen in love with these characters with the ending we always longed for for Daniel and June. An incredible return, Rebel is the kind of book that deserves to be read and loved more than once. We give Rebel Five Stars ISBN - 978-0-241-43644-8 Hardback Cover Price - £12.99 First published in the USA by Roaring Brook Press 2019

The explosive conclusion to Marie Lu's Young Elites series, The Midnight Star hits all of the top notes readers have been waiting for. From the blurb; 'There was once a time when darkness surrounded the world and the darkness had a queen. 'Adelina Amouteru is done suffering. She's turned her back on those who have betrayed her and achieved the ultimate revenge - victory. Her reign as the White Wolf has been a triumphant one but the darkness within her has begun to spiral out of control, threatening to destroy everything. When a new danger appears, Adelina must join the Daggers on a perilous quest in order to save herself and preserve her empire. But this uneasy alliance may prove to be the real danger...' A heart-rending conclusion to this amazing series The Midnight Star is a fast paced, action-packed, end to The Young Elites. Embracing the dark side of her main character Marie Lu runs with the heart of Adelina, and despite Adelina's cruel actions Lu creates in her a villain the reader can emphasize with and truly care for. The Young Elites series is a masterclass from Lu in writing compelling characters and complex fantasy elements. Her choice to make this story a villain tale, instead of the easily accessible hero's story, highlights her creative ability and creates a high-adrenaline series that readers will not want to put down. With each step Adelina takes on the darker path we despair and yet simultaneously cheer for her. This is a character whose thwart life is spilled across the page, whose strength and ambition to save herself and her sister is roared out to the reader. We can see the choices laid before her, and though we know for the greater good the choices she often makes are wrong, it is with a little joy that we see her choose herself. These complex feelings about the main character make The Young Elites addictive, while the final novel begs the question, do we want Adelina to succeed as the villain, to change her course, or to be destroyed by the hero's? Lu winds us down a destructive path in The Midnight Star that will keep readers gripped throughout, and gifts us with a conclusion only fitting for Adelina and this world. A marvellous, bittersweet, conclusion to a phenomenal series, The Midnight Star should not be missed. We give The Midnight Star Four Stars ISBN - 978-0-141-36184-0 Cover Price - £7.99 First published in the USA by G.P.Putnam's Sons, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC 2016

If you found the Slated trilogy impossible to put down then Fated is the book that will answer all your left over questions. This explosive prequel to the renowned Slated trilogy from Teri Terry is an action packed read that gives us the insight into how the world of Slated came about which we all desire. From the blurb; 'I'm just one girl. What can I do? 'Sam's cosy life as daughter to the Deputy Prime Minister is about to end. These are turbulent times. Borders have closed and protests are turning violent. The government blames the country's youth, and is cracking down hard. Mobile phones are blocked, gathering are banned and dissent is brutally crushed. 'Sam is torn between family loyalty and doing what is right. When she meets Ava and Lucas her mind is made up. 'One girl, one choice. She can make a difference: she must. Even if her life - and her heart - are on the line...' As with all prequels we go into Fated knowing what the resulting world will look like at the end of the novel, however, it is in her well formed cast of characters that Terry laces her plot twists, the final chapters particularly bringing shock factor for those who loved the Slated series. Through the lens of our main characters, and their switching perspectives between chapters, we get a first hand account of how the country fell into the post-apocalyptic feeling state we open to in Slated. Sam, with her front line view of the political world which dictates these novels offers an insight that was not accessible within the Slated novels. She watches and accounts as the countries political figures twist their power to create the locked United Kingdom we come to know if the further series. It is through her dismay and understanding of these political figures and their machinations that we truly begin to understand how the country became so corrupted, scared and brutalized in the span of years. Sam, a character with back-bone, takes what opportunities she has to try to prevent the powers that be getting what they desire and it is through her campaign to stop what is coming that the story finds it's driving force, passion and edge-of-your-seat pacing. Answering our questions from the Slated trilogy, Fated is a beautiful compliment to this series and shows off Terry's marvellous skill at creating characters and political systems. We give Fated Four Stars ISBN - 978-1-40835-066-9 Cover Price - £7.99 First published in Great Britain in 2019 by The Watts Publishing Group

This intensive psychological thriller with untrustworthy narrators will keep readers on the edge of their seats throughout. From the blurb; 'Police are asking for anyone with information about the Brewers' whereabouts to contact local authorities. 'Siblings Liv and Jory Brewer have grown up resenting each other. Liv - former pageant queen and reality TV star - was groomed for a life in the spotlight. Jory, who was born with a partial facial paralysis, was left in the shadows. The only thing they have in common is contempt for their parents. 'Now Liv is suing her mom and dad for emancipation, and Jory views the whole thing as yet another attention-seeking spectacle. But on the day of the hearing, their parents mysteriously vanish. Liv feels certain she knows where they are and suspects that Jory knows more than he's telling... which is true. 'What starts as a simple overnight road trip soon takes a turn for the dangerous and bizarre. As the due speeds through the deserts of Nevada, brother and sister will unearth deep family secrets that force them to relive their pasts as they try to retain a grip on the present.' Switching perspectives throughout between Liv and Jory give not so much of a broader perspective on the story but a confused and conflicted time-line. Boorman wants readers to feel the confusion that these characters are going through, and does this by jumping us between perspectives and timelines. As we're trying to piece together the memories of Jory and Liv's pasts we're also trying to keep pace with the present as what was meant to be a simple road trip twists and turns into a conflicting journey. As we attempt to grasp our footing within the story Jory and Liv also begin to piece together parts of their pasts that they didn't know about each other. Through this understanding their bond steadily grows and, with their understanding for one another, a new path emerges for their shared future. What We Buried is a mind-bending novel that deserves a second read to appreciate all of it's convoluted nuance and shows Boormans' skill at creating strong characters with untrustworthy narration. We give What We Buried Four Stars ISBN - 978-1-250-19167-0 First published in 2019 by Henry Holt and Company

This third novel in the Forest Of Hands and Teeth series is a marvellous expansion on this terrifying world from Carrie Ryan. From the blurb; 'Annah knows she has a twin sister, but she forgot her long ago. Back when they went to play in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, she and Elias lost her, and after that there was no going back to the village. 'Life's been hard, but Elias has taken care of her, and living in the Dark City can help one to forget the horror of the Unconsecrated - if you try hard enough. 'But when Elias disappears, Annah's world crumbles. To her, life isn't worth much more than the walking dead who roam the wasted world she lives in. It;s not until she meets Catcher that she cares enough to start living again. 'Yet Catcher has secrets. Dark, terrifying secrets that link him to a past she has longed to forget and a future too deadly to consider. 'Annah must decide: Can she continue to live in a world covered in the blood of the living? 'Or is death the answer to all her problems?' Finally dropping us into the Dark City hinted at in second novel The Dead-Tossed Waves, Ryan brings us a much grander scale of human civilization in this apocalyptic world, and a new cast of characters to show us around it. Unlike previous main characters Mary and Gabry, Annah is hard worn. She has already survived her ordeal and is now going through life trying to escape the past that bites at her heels. It is only when faced with the reality she longed to forget that Annah must go through a far more tragically human struggle than her predecessors within the series. Of course Ryan does not stray too far from the zombie nightmares that have made this series an intense survival adventure throughout, and it is not long before their ravenous effects on the small surviving human population begin to take tole. Ryan reveals a little more of the mystery of this world throughout The Dark and Hollow Places, allowing us to piece together some of the larger picture, but still entices us with questions and mysteries which lay hanging over this series and make us want to read more. As with The Dead-Tossed Waves Ryan gifts us with some returning cast members, connecting the blank spaces that lie between the novels, and drawing all three books together. The Dark and Hollow Places adds to the fear factor as Ryan explores the dark underbelly of humanity grouped into a survival gauntlet. In this novel the enemy is both living and dead, leaving little safety for Annah or for the reader to find rest in. Ryan's ability to keep readers at the edge of their seat while crafting a fresh premise on zombie survival stories makes The Dark and Hollow Places a marvel to read that will nor disappoint fans of the series so far. We Give The Dark and Hollow Places Four Stars ISBN - 978-0-575-09485-7 Cover Price - £7.99 First published in Great Britain in 2011 by Gollancz

This explosive sequel to the outstanding The Forest Of Hand's and Teeth from Carrie Ryan will not disappoint fans as we dive back into this fast paced and cut throat fight for survival. From the blurb; 'One night beyond the barrier. 'One boy she's known forever. 'One veiled in mystery. 'One reckless moment... and half her generation is dead. 'Gabry lives a quiet life, secure in her town next to the sea and behind the Barrier. She's content to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. 'Home is all she's ever known and all she needs for happiness. But life after the Return is never safe and there are threats even the barrier can't hold back. 'Gabry's mother thought she'd left her secrets behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth but now, to save the ones she loves, Gabry must face the Forest of her mother's past.' Jumping in several years after the conclusion to The Forest Of Hands and Teeth, The Dead-Tossed Waves introduces us to a new cast of main characters and a new setting. However, the deadly forest which captivated our minds and kept us at the edge of our seats in the first novel remains a heavy shadow in this new environment, and it isn't long before Gabry is forced back into it's dark midst. With brilliant deliberation Ryan gives us the missing information that fills the gaps for the years that have passed since the first novel, and bitterly returns us to some of the scenes of The Forest Of Hands and Teeth's most tragic moments, balanced joyously against the return of some of it's best characters. We get a new aspect on the scale of the apocalypse through The Dead-Tossed Waves and it will leave readers gasping for breath as they are carried through another epic survival tale, laced with mystery, from Ryan. Gabry brings a new voice to this scary world. Her view so very unlike previous main character Mary, but the lessons she must learn throughout The Dead-Tossed Waves are just as desperate. For any reader who loves a thrilling horror adventure, and enjoyed such shows as The Walking Dead, The Dead-Tossed Waves is a masterful novel you won't be able to put down. We give The Dead-Tossed Waves Five Stars ISBN - 978-07575-09092-7 Cover Price - £6.99 First published in Great Britain in 2010 by Gollancz

Inspired by Truman Capote's In Cold Blood, All These Bodies is the ideal read for fans of Fantasy and true-crime TV. Kendare Blake spins a web of crime, inspired by real events and literary journalism, to create a novel that feels breathtakingly real, and equally fantastical. From the blurb; 'For months, a gruesome killer has been plaguing the Midwest. The murderer’s calling card? The bodies they leave behind are completely drained of blood. 'Aspiring journalist Michael Jensen, desperate to escape his small-town life, can hardly believe it when the Bloodless Murders come to sleepy Black Deer Falls, Minnesota. Or that his father, the sheriff, located the only suspect: fifteen-year-old Marie Catherine Hale. 'Tiny Marie doesn’t look capable of committing the grisly, inhumane attacks that are gripping the nation. At least, not on her own. With Marie refusing to talk to anyone but Michael, he agrees to tell her side of the story. 'But how can Michael trust Marie’s confession when it calls into question everything he's ever known . . . when falling for her lies may cost him his life?' All These Bodies is a brilliant crime thriller, laced with fantasy hints, combining to leave shivers running up spines and the hair on the backs of necks standing on end. Blake shows off her writing prowess through this gritty, tell all, interview style novel focused on the mystery murders that have rocked the American nation, and the boy who finds himself caught up in them. As we read Michael's experiences we are drawn into a very realistic painting of his life. His time at school. His friends. His family. This highly realistic depiction of his day-to-day lays the groundwork for the mystery. Faced with crimes no one can explain, when the potential killer is captured, Michael hear's her story first hand, and he and his friends begin to experience things that point to Marie's story being true. Each spine tingling incident rocks both the reader and Michael's worlds and begins to lay the seed of a question, one Blake refuses to provide a definitive answer too. As Michael pieces together the story of the murders through Marie's confession we too get a better idea of what happened, or what we think happened. Marie's story doesn't seem believable in this realistic setting, but how else can you explain what happened? What is happening? What is still yet to occur? Blake provides just enough information, just enough hints and clues, to make both the Fantasy and the 'Reality' believable. Forcing the reader to ask themselves, what do you believe? Do you believe in monsters in the night? Or do you think that something awful has happened to Marie to make her believe in her own fantasy? Brilliantly crafted Blake will leave readers breathless with All These Bodies, and desperate for more novels of this style from her in the future. We give All These Bodies Five Stars ISBN - 978-1529052893 Cover Price - £7.99 First published in 2021

Set in the world of Kendare Blake's ground breaking Three Dark Crowns series, Champion Of Fate is a masterclass in fantasy set around strong female leads. Fast paced, filled with action and laced with plot twists, Champion Of Fate will leave readers desperate for more. From the blurb; 'To be an Aristene is to give up your mortal life. And to be granted a new one. 'The Aristene is a mythical order of female warriors. While heroes are the ones immortalized in legends, it's the Aristene who guide their paths to victory. They are the Heromakers. 'Reed - an orphan raised by the order - has always dreamed of taking her place beside her sisters-in-arms. To do that, she must help her first hero achieve glory on the battlefield. 'Nothing is going to stop Reed. Until, that is, she is assigned the fiery and infuriating Prince Hestion. As their alliance turns into something more, she starts to question the true cost of becoming an Aristene. With battle looming, Reed must make an impossible choice - her hero or her order.' Blake's talent as a top tier fantasy author within the Young Adult section is on full display in this impossible to put down novel. Champion Of Fate rings with a uniqueness that will capture the imaginations of every reader. With an empowered cast of female characters Blake show's off her talent at crafting marvellously choreographed action scenes, and beautifully crafted, realistic characters whose individual arcs are all seen through with care and diligence, leaving no character feeling like a cheap extra. Champion Of Fate has no boring chapters. Readers are launched from one plot twist, to another epic battle, to a soul wrenching moment of love or sorrow throughout the book, keeping us on ours toes as we race with Reed toward her destiny. While the order itself, Reed and her friends roles within it, make for enough of a driving force to keep us glued to the pages of Champion Of Fate, it is the villain of this book who is truly startling. Blake crafts her master villain with a calculated hand. Lacing his horrific acts with a bitter twist of madness, that will leave shivers running up readers spines and hearts racing. Reed, who swiftly becomes a lovable character, is crafted in an honest light. Her choices and her actions are not always perfect. She is not the kick-ass heroin of so many of today's novels, whose every move is a calculated choice they already have planned out chapters before. Instead Reed is the epitome of driven. She knows what she wants, and strides for it, making some mistakes along the way but never relinquishing her desires. It is this honesty in her character that makes her both lovable and addictive. We cannot rely on her to make the right choices, to listen to the right people, or to take the right path, but we cheer for her anyway. Reed's successes feel hard won, they feel celebratory, and equally her struggles feel real. We know how much she has worked, and how pure her heart is. Champion Of Fate is set to be a duology, which will leave readers filled with excitement, as the second novel is set to release September 2024. We can not wait to see what Blake brings to this world, and to Reed, next. We give Champion Of Fate Five Stars ISBN - 978-0-86154-750-0 Cover Price - £9.99 First published in Great Britain, the Republic of Ireland and Australia by Rock the Boat, an imprint of Oneworld Publications 2023

The original conclusion to the Shatter Me trilogy by Tahereh Mafi will have fans celebrating. From the blurb; 'Everyone Juliette has ever cared about may be dead - the rebels, her friends, and even Adam could all be gone. But that won't keep her from trying to take down the Reestablishment once and for all. 'And now Juliette must rely on Warner. The one person she never thought she could trust. The same person who saved her life. He promises to help Juliette master her powers and save their dying world - but that's not all he wants with her...' Finally ready to fully embrace her powers we see Juliette at her strongest in this fight-for-your-life conclusion to the series. Initially abandoned, with nothing but old enemies to aid her, Juliette must set her resolve as she enters what could be her final battle. Aided by Warner Juliette breaks down some of the wrongs inflicted on her and her world, discovering secrets that may aid her fight, and building trust with her unlikely allies. Ultimately it is Juliette and Juliette alone who proves to have the raw power and strength to take on the final mission of this book, and we see what she is truly capable off in a breathtaking display of power and will. From the unsure and scared main character we were introduced to in Shatter Me, it is a joy to see Juliette finally accept and embrace herself. Through this acceptance she stands a chance at winning freedom for herself and for the people she cares about, as long as her newly found resolve isn't shaken. Interlaced throughout this novel a blooming and long awaited love story finally has a chance to play out. Mafi gleefully gives the reader everything they've be longing for in this bright conclusion to the trilogy however leaves some questions unanswered and a door open to further novels. Thankfully Mafi does return to the world of Shatter Me in later years to continue Juliette's story and answer the questions still left unresolved by Ignite Me. However that does not stop Ignite Me from standing and feeling like the concluding novel it was originally intended to be. Well paced and swift to bring on everything readers have been waiting for, Ignite Me is a book that readers will consume fast and leave them feeling delightfully satisfied. We give Ignite Me Four Stars ISBN - 978 0 6035 8067 3 Cover Price - £8.99 First published in the USA 2014 by HarperCollins Children's Books

Return to the world of Tahereh Mafi's Shatter Me series in this exciting second novel and change the world with main character Juliettte in the battle we've all been waiting for. From the blurb; 'Juliette has escaped The Reestablishment. She has found the headquarters of the rebel resistance - and people like her. Gifted people. 'She is free from the threat of being used to kill others, and free to love Adam, the man who saved her. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch. Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible. Haunted by her past and terrified of her future, Juliette must choose between her heart - and the life of the one she loves.' With the ground work laid in Shatter Me, Unravel Me allows Mafi to plunge the reader into the depths of this world, and the struggles that fill it. With plot twists brewing, the first half of this novel focuses in on Juliette's struggles to accept her new reality, and her growing abilities. Once the stage is set we rush into the outer world and the battle that exists beyond the underground keep, unlocking secrets about this dystopia and reeling from characters shifts and plot twists that change the landscape for Juliette and force us to question the decisions she has and will make. Mafi initially caught the interest of readers with her unique writing style in Shatter Me. Written like a very intimate diary, or more accurately like the internal monologue of main character Juliette. Shatter Me featured hundreds of lines scored out, reflecting the shifting thoughts and feelings of the character and highlighting what she thought she knew, what was true and what she was being forced to believe. However in Unravel Me we see less of this style of writing play out across the page. In a way Mafi is reflecting the growing strength of Juliette through this shift, showing that the character has fewer doubts within her resolve and understanding of the world. While the loss of scored out sections may be a relief to readers who found Shatter Me hard to read due to them, to others it may come as a disappointment to find Mafi's unique writing style diluted. Whatever your thoughts on Mafi's writing techniques there is no doubt that Unravel Me, with it's explosive conclusion, is a stronger book than Shatter Me and will leave readers eager to find out what happens next. We give Unravel Me Four Stars ISBN - 978 0 6035 8066 6 Cover Price - £8.99 First published in the USA 2013 by HarperCollins Children's Books

Long awaited, the third Crescent City Novel from powerhouse author Sarah J. Maas is finally on the shelves and in peoples hands, but after two years of waiting does House of Flame and Shadow live up to the hype. From the blurb; 'Bryce Quinlan is stranded in a strange new world. She's going to need all her wits about her to get home again and return to everything she loves. But that's no easy feat when she has no idea who to trust. 'Meanwhile, Hunt Athalar is back in the Asteri's dungeons. Stripped of his freedom and the happiness he's fought so hard for, he's without a clue as to Bryce's fate. Hunt is desperate to help his mate, but until he can escape the Asteri's chains, his hands are quite literally tied. ' Following the cliff-hanger in House of Sky and Breath some will be left wishing that this novel were the sixth in The Court Of Thorns and Roses series, especially as they dive deeper into House of Flame and Shadow to discover that this novels focus is in Bryce's world, and not the beloved Night Court. While Maas has hinted in recent interviews about a return to the world of The Court Of Thorns and Roses series in future novels readers will have to put their desire to see the Night Court cast aside if they want to truly embrace House of Flame and Shadow. As is becoming usual for Maas's novels House of Flame and Shadow is a book of switching perspectives, across a now massive cast of characters. These swift switches will have readers heads spinning as we try to keep the various plot lines straight in our minds. However, this endless string of new challenges successfully keeps readers on their toes as they enjoy the story pulling together from several sides at once. House of Flame and Shadow is an action packed read, starting with every main character caught up in their own battles, and seeing each of them go through considerable growth before finally coming together. With everyone's lives on the line some Maas readers will be surprised to find that House of Flame and Shadow has noticeably fewer scenes of passion between characters, however Maas still provides some romps at the books quieter moments, while not deviating from the overall sense of urgency that drives this tale. At 835 pages before bonus chapters, House of Flame and Shadow is a commitment to read, and while in classic Maas fashion it will keep you hooked, it cannot be helped but to wonder if this novel in particular needed such behemoth length as we trudge through some chapters. Of course the main pull for returning readers is Bryce and Hunt. These two lovers have become fan favourites as Bryce's take-no-shit attitude and quick quips resonate against Hunt's strong and emotionally wounded character, creating a lighthearted and passionate dynamic. In House of Flame and Shadow we enjoy not just their relationship growth but also a levelling up in power and understanding of their blood-lines histories, facts that ultimately come into play in the final 200 pages. Unique among her other female lead characters Bryce was a breath of fresh air for Maas fans when she was introduced in House of Earth and Blood, so when Bryce begins to show character traits similar to the much loved Aelin Galathynius, there is a moment of worry that Bryce's strength will change her character beyond recognition. Thankfully by the close of House of Flame and Shadow the Bryce we all fell in love with, with her quick wit and playful attitude, has returned. In a questionable publishing choice from Bloomsbury House of Flame and Shadow was released with five bonus chapters; Bryce & Hunt; Ember & Randall; Bryce & Danika; Ruhn & Lidia; Bryce, Nesta & Azriel; each printed as their own individual mini-book and distributed to be sold with the main novel, one bonus chapter allocated per book-selling chain. This decision has left some fans questioning the worth of splashing out huge sums to buy the novel five times so as to read all five bonus chapters, while others have been left reeling that in their country or area the bonus chapters are not available at all or in their entirety. We can only hope that these five stories find their way to the Sarah J. Maas website for free in the near future as, in our opinion, the best chapters of the story are hidden in these bonus shorts. For those readers who were left disappointed by the short glimpse into the world of The Court of Thorns and Roses, and would have liked to see more of these characters interactions with the House of Flame and Shadow cast and world, bonus chapters Ember & Randall and Bryce, Nesta & Azriel are for you. Ember & Randall gifts readers with a glimpse into the struggles for Ember and Randall as they fight to accept everything their daughter is taking on and get their heads around a new setting filled with strange new people. While Bryce, Nesta & Azriel gives readers that little bit extra interaction between this mismatched main cast. Outside of distrusting one another, this bonus chapter allows our cast of characters to ask questions, explore their curiosities and connect on a genuine level. Providing readers with the cross-cast interaction they've been begging for throughout House of Flame and Shadow. For readers who wanted more romance, and a glimpse into the aftermath of the main story, Ruhn & Lidia, and Bryce & Hunt are the romantically blissful extras you'll want to read. Bryce & Hunt is a wonderfully light-weight, happy chapter full of merriment and couple-goals for this pair who have spent all of their romantic coupling caught up in hardship and power-struggles. It gives us a glimpse into who these main characters will be in the future, and gifts readers with a sense of joy as they step into a future they fought so hard to secure. On the other hand Ruhn & Lidia tells of a joy only just beginning, still finding it's feet, as the characters themselves go through a massive life shift and take on new roles to those they've always held. Finally we are left with the most powerful of the bonus chapters, Bryce & Danika. Since her too short appearance in House of Earth and Blood, Danika and all that she meant to Bryce and the cast of characters around her, has pushed this main story line along. For three novels she has been the memory that carries Bryce through the storms, and stood as the character who laid the foundations for everything that was to come. While she means everything to the story, actual time with Danika is very little through out all three novels, and there are countless mysteries still to be answered when it comes to this powerhouse wolf. Bryce & Danika is the bonus chapter that gifts long term readers some of that insight. Pulling us back through the stories arching timeline to where it all began, and gifting us an interaction between these two best friends that we didn't realise we wanted to see so badly. House of Flame and Shadow is a novel that will delight Maas fans, and with the addition of all five bonus chapters it lives up to the anticipation that surrounded it's long awaited release. With some plot lines left hanging House of Flame and Shadow leaves the door open to more in the Crescent City universe, and we hope that Maas will return to this world in the near future. We give House of Flame and Shadow Four Stars ISBN - 978-1-4088-8444-7 Hard Cover Price - £22.00 First published in the United States in 2024 by Bloomsbury Publishing.

Enter The Witcher. This first novel of Andrzej Sapkowski's The Witcher series is a must read after the first two short story collections. Fianlly giving us the long form Witcher tale the short stories have set us up for and drawing us into the thick of Geralt's life. From the blurb; 'The Witcher holds the fate of the world in his hands. 'For over a century, humans, dwarves, gnomes, and elves have lived together in relative peace. But now the races are fighting once more - killing their own kind and each other. 'As the threat of war hangs over the land, Geralt of Rivia, must protect the child of prophecy, Ciri, from those who are hunting her for the extraordinary power she holds. A power that could save the world - or destory it. This time, Geralt may have met his match.' Transitioning between characters viewpoints and narration throughout the novel, Blood Of Elves, provides a broad world view and keeps readers on their toes as Geralt hides Ciri from the world that longs to control her. Pressed into the role of protector and father figure a softer side to The Witcher emerges in this fast paced high fantasy read, and the risk is higher than ever. While for those who have seen the live action verison of the books on Netflix much of this first entry into the series will be familure, however Netflix has failed to capture a lot of the nuance and delicate world building that Sapkowski is expert in, making this novel an intence and engageing read for those who have seen the live action Netflix adaption as much as for those who have not. A returning cast of favourate characters from the short stories bouys this novel, and brings with it some comic releife scattered throughout the tense chapters of the story. Blood of Elves stands as a captivating introduction to the series that will leave readers wanting more. While the world is going to war on itself we are left to wonder whether Geralt can keep his promise to protect Ciri, or if her destiny is one even the great White Wolf cannot fight. We give Bloof Of Elves four stars, ISBN - 978-1-473-23107-8 Cover Price - £9.99 Firts published in Great Britain in 2008 by Gollancz an imprint of The Orion Publishing Group Ltd.