Review: The Queen's Rising by Rebecca Ross

When her seventeenth summer solstice arrives, Brienna desires only two things: to master her passion and to be chosen by a patron. Growing up in the southern kingdom of Valenia at the renowned Magnalia House should have prepared her. While some are born with an innate talent for one of the five passions—art, music, dramatics, wit, and knowledge—Brienna struggled to find hers until she belatedly chose to study knowledge. However, the solstice does not go according to plan, and she is left without a patron. Months later, Brienna’s life takes an unexpected turn when a disgraced lord offers her patronage. Though she’s suspicious of his intent, she has no other option, and must accept. But she soon discovers that he has big plans for her future. For there is a dangerous plot being planned to overthrow the king of Maevana—the rival kingdom of Valenia—and restore the rightful queen, and her magic, to the northern throne. The question is, who will be that queen?

Before I even begin this review I want to state that I did enjoy The Queen's Rising. It kept my interest for a long train journey and despite a rocky start - it took me a good 70 pages or so to really get reeled in- by the end of the book I sort of didn't want it to end.

That being said, on a completely critical note, some parts of this book just sort of fell flat for me. For example, at some points the dialogue just got a little bit too casual and didn't seem to fit the world that Rebecca Ross was trying to build. It pulled me out of the story a bit. On the other hand, sometimes the prose went a little too old-fashioned and it just didn't work, like a six year old trying to write a Shakespeare play.

That all being said, I did so love the plot of this book. The whole Anglo/Celtic style background and the flawed main character. I loved Brienna because she starts of the book not knowing what she wants in life and finishes it with a family and a life and a purpose. Despite the initial ickiness of the relationship between her and Cartier - which to be honest could have been erased just by getting rid of the scene where they first meet (she's ten, he's an adult) - I began to care about the two of them. I think the whole thing stemmed from the age difference because it's only around halfway through the novel that it becomes clear that he's not like fifty and is only like seven years older.

I would have liked more explanation on the magic side of things, and a little bit more time to get used to the Maevana side of things because everything felt a little too fast in the second half of the book, but I still connected with the people who really mattered on the plot.

Overall, The Queen's Rising was a good book with some twists and turns and some fun characters. I loved the world, but felt that the lore and characters were not as fleshed out as I would like. Because of some iffy prose and bad pacing, I was a little pulled out of this book but will still definitely read the sequel!

Book released 6th February 2018 by HarperTeen

Book received from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review

Review: The Final Six by Alexandra Monir

When Leo, an Italian championship swimmer, and Naomi, a science genius from California, are two of the twenty-four teens drafted into the International Space Training Camp, their lives are forever altered. After erratic climate change has made Earth a dangerous place to live, the fate of the population rests on the shoulders of the final six who will be scouting a new planet. Intense training, global scrutiny, and cutthroat opponents are only a few of the hurdles the contestants must endure in this competition.


For Leo, the prospect of traveling to Europa—Jupiter’s moon—to help resettle humankind is just the sense of purpose he’s been yearning for since losing his entire family in the flooding of Rome. Naomi, after learning of a similar space mission that mysteriously failed, suspects the ISTC isn’t being up front with them about what’s at risk.

To say that this is the book that encouraged me to start reviewing again after a hiatus of over a year says a lot about it's awesomeness.

I've not really been into sci-fi books for quite a while, to be honest I've found them so samey recently and I've just not managed to find one which grips me and keeps me the way The Final Six did. From the very first chapter when we meet Leo and Naomi to the final line I was gripped. I reran my bath water like five times and finished it in a matter of hours. It was such a page-turner.

What really impressed me about this book was the whole air of suspense and mystery in it. You know there's something secret going on, but you never completely guess it. You make some hazardous guesses along the right lines, so when it is revealed it doesn't feel out of nowhere but it's still enough of a shock to leave a reader reeling.

I loved Leo as a character, he was so warm and caring and the development of feelings for Naomi felt so organic and realistic. Naomi was such a lovely person as well - driven in her mission for the truth but not so much that she completely shuts herself from any real interactions with other people. I genuinely just loved reading about these two and came to rally care about their wellbeing and relationship.

If there's just one thing that I would say brought this book down, it was - to a small degree - the writing. I could never really tell the difference between Leo's chapters and Naomi's so sometimes I would think I was reading Naomi's point of view and it was actually Leo. Also, some of the dialogue felt a little pushed and not really what anybody in that scenario would say.

Nonetheless, I still absolutely adored this book. The ending has left me wanting more and more, and I am so excited for the next in the series!

Book released 6th March 2018 by HarperTeen

Book received from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review

Can't Wait Wednesday - 5th September 2017

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted here, at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. If you're continuing with WOW, feel free to link those up as well! Find out more here.

Warcross by Marie Lu - G.P Putnams, 12th September 2017

For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn’t just a game—it’s a way of life. The obsession started ten years ago and its fan base now spans the globe, some eager to escape from reality and others hoping to make a profit. Struggling to make ends meet, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down players who bet on the game illegally. But the bounty hunting world is a competitive one, and survival has not been easy. Needing to make some quick cash, Emika takes a risk and hacks into the opening game of the international Warcross Championships—only to accidentally glitch herself into the action and become an overnight sensation.

Convinced she’s going to be arrested, Emika is shocked when instead she gets a call from the game’s creator, the elusive young billionaire Hideo Tanaka, with an irresistible offer. He needs a spy on the inside of this year’s tournament in order to uncover a security problem . . . and he wants Emika for the job. With no time to lose, Emika’s whisked off to Tokyo and thrust into a world of fame and fortune that she’s only dreamed of. But soon her investigation uncovers a sinister plot, with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire.

 My thoughts:

I always love LitRPG books - YA books especially. This one seems really good and you really can't go wrong with Marie Lu!

Review: #famous by Jilly Gagnon

In this modern-day love story, Girl likes Boy, Girl takes photo of Boy and posts it online, Boy becomes accidentally insta-famous. And what starts out as an innocent joke spirals into a whirlwind adventure that could change both their lives—and their hearts—forever. But are fame and love worth the price?

Told in alternating points of view, #famous captures the out-of-control thrill ride of falling for someone in front of everyone.

Oh gosh, this was such an adorable read! Not only was it just so cute and relateable, but it's also realistic and relevant in this era of internet fame. It's totally believable that someone can get famous based on just a flit (tweet) of a picture of a highly attractive boy. It's also so very believable how the public reacts and how Rachel is treated. 

What I did love was the way this book is so body positive - Rachel is a bigger girl, based on the things that people say to her, but this never becomes a thing. She never looks in the mirror and feels bad about herself, sure she has her insecurities but it's not too big a deal.

Not only is the romance so very realistic - the chemistry is so immediately obvious there - but the friendships are so good. Ollie was everything I want in life and Mo was just so perfect, so there and reassuring. All of the relationships are so well done. Even Emma was the perfect character, not just the evil ex-girlfriend. This book is so real and teens will relate to this book so well.

Overall, #famous was such a realistic and quirky read with adorable characters and so much contemporary relevance. This is a must read for any teen looking for something fun and meaningful.

Book released 14th February 2017 by Katherine Tegan Books

Book received from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review

A Notice...

I have decided, after a year of on and off blogging, that it is best if I no longer commit to Blogging any longer.

Ink Scratchers was created by a 17 year old with too much time on her hands and not a whole lot of friends in her life. At that time, reading and sharing my feelings and opinions about those books was a passion. However, I am not 23, I have a very demanding job, a partner, a home to keep and not a whole lot of uncommitted time. Whilst I continue to read, I just can't keep up with the demand and I don't want to keep having myself stress over when I will get around to catching up on reviews.

For everyone that has supported me and read my reviews over the last six year, I can only say a massive thank you.

And to all of the authors and publishers who have kept me busy, keep doing what you do - you made a young adult very happy and fulfilled.

Love,

Jade

Review: How to Keep a Boy From Kissing You by Tara Eglington

Sweet sixteen and never been kissed—and that’s the way Aurora Skye wants it to be. She’s too busy finding guys for her two best friends, counseling her sensitive New Age dad (the NAD), and dealing with the unexpected return of her long-absent mom.

But always in the background there’s Hayden Paris, the boy next door, the bane of Aurora’s existence. Smart, funny, and always around to see her at her worst, he ‘gets’ her like no-one else... and that’s what makes him so infuriating.

When Aurora and Hayden are coerced into the lead roles in the school production of Much Ado About Nothing, things can only get worse. How is Aurora going to save her first kiss for the secret admirer who wooed her with poetry and a spectacular bunch of flowers on Valentine’s Day if she doesn’t know who he is and she’s obligated to lock lips with Hayden in the play’s final dramatic clinch?

How to Keep a Boy From Kissing You is a rerelease of a book that was initially published in 2013 in Australia, so it had quite a few positive reviews by the time I requested it for reviews. I think that this book was such a cute and fun read that it deserves the positive reviews, but it wasn't so amazing and covered new ground that I could call it fantastic.

Aurora was a cute character to a degree, but I would be lying if I didn't say that she got on my nerves at some point. She was a meddler, akin to Cher in Clueless and very over-reactive, which made the book feel overdramatic. In fact, all of the characters are quite like this, except Hayden.

The chemistry between Hayden and Aurora is there, and I feel like this part of the book were done well, even though the characters individually didn't blow me away the romance was so cute.

Overall, How to Keep a Boy From Kissing You was a fun and cute read, but the overdramatic characters made it a little hard to bear at times. if you want a shallow but cute read, kind of like Clueless, you may want to check this book out. 

Book released 25th October by St Martins Griffin

Book received from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review

Review: The Romantics by Leah Konen

Perfect for fans of Lauren Myracle and Rainbow Rowell, The Romantics will charm readers of all ages. Gael Brennan is about to have his heart broken when his first big relationship crumbles on the heels of his parents’ painful separation. Love intervenes with the intention of setting things right—but she doesn’t anticipate the intrusion of her dreaded nemesis: the Rebound. Love’s plans for Gael are sidetracked by Cara, Gael’s hot-sauce-wielding “dream girl.” The more Love meddles, the further Gael drifts from the one girl who can help him mend his heart. Soon Love starts breaking all her own rules—and in order to set Gael’s fate back on course, she has to make some tough decisions about what it means to truly care.

Maybe this book is cliche, but this is exactly what Konen was aiming for. She has literally lampshaded so many YA tropes and made it work. She takes a boy (a real Romantic), a Rebound and the Right Girl and plays them  together, having Love narrate it all so we know all the way through this book which way it has to go. On paper this may seem like it wouldn't work, but it was absolutely perfectly executed and I honestly cannot stress how well this was done.

I loved all of the characters in this book - Gael seemed a little weak to start with but by the end of the book he had found direction and knew what was right, so I loved that. Sammy was just absolutely perfect - the college girl babysitter that Gael should be with. Even Cara was well written and then there's Anika, Gael's ex who I despised but in the best possible way.

The best part of this book is the writing though, Leah Konen wrote a brilliant book but the voice that she gave to our narrator was so witty and dry. Sarcasm reigns, and there were some amazing quotes in there - this is sole reason to read this book if nothing else.

Overall, The Romantics was a well written and very entertaining book with clever characters and amazing dialogue.

Book released 1st November Amulet Books

Book received from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review