BOOK REVIEW: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Our friend Rita over at Weaving Pages has written a brilliant blog reviewing Six of Crows before our event with Leigh Bardugo on Friday 23 October at 6pm. Over to Rita….

Hello everyone!

Six of Crows is one of the best books I’ve read this year, and I will be recommending it to anyone and everyone!

Title: Six of Crows

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Series: Six of Crows #1

Publisher: Indigo

Published: September 29th 2015

No. of Pages: 528

The Grisha Trilogy introduced readers to the irresistible fantasy world of the Grisha – and now Leigh Bardugo brings us a new sweeping epic.

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. -(Goodreads)

I feel like I’ve been hitting the jackpot with all these books lately, because I’m following my review of Queen of Shadows with yet another 5 star book: Six of Crows. This book is being released 29th September, and if there is one thing you do that day, make it be running to the bookstore to buy this. Anyone who loves a tale of unfortunate souls, cunning plans and even more cunning escapes will feel like Six of Crows is a dream come true. Don’t miss it!

The plot to this novel is a wonder to behold. Set in the Grisha world- the same that the author’s Shadow & Bone series is set in –Six of Crows offers a whole new host of characters to give you a new insight on the world you thought you knew. Even if you weren’t a huge fan of the original series like me, this will out do your expectations. I carted this hefty novel with me everywhere, even if it meant having to acquire some more upper arm strength. With the story constantly knotting itself into the trickiest of situations, the solutions almost seem to be magic: not a single one is predictable in the slightest. It’s the perfect combination of nail-biting suspense followed by the slightest relief before you’re pulled into the story once more. Not a single detail is missed, so the streets and ice fortresses come to life just like if you were infiltrating them yourself.

The new group of characters is also a gem itself. The personalities are as different as they come, meaning it is unlikely that you won’t find someone to root for. What is likely is that you’ll find yourself wanting them all to win the dangerous game they’re playing, even as you begin to question their intentions or worry about their next move. Spontaneous does not begin to describe the ways they will surprise you. Even though the plot twists are brilliant, you can not help but get the sense the characters are running the show, which of course means you’ll have no control of your emotions. Look out for my favourites: Nina, who fights for what she wants and what she loves; Kaz, for his genius ideas and uncertain character that I can’t wait to be developed; Inej, for her gentle strength but badass fighting skills and a load more of them who were equally amazing.

Six of Crows will leave you reeling for the next book, still trying to process what has just happened. I can tell you one thing: this is just the beginning. The danger and thrill is not prepared to end along with the first book, and I’m sure the next novel will be just as good if not better. This is going to be one of the series that takes us bookish people by storm- I was definitely not expecting it!

If you like Six of Crows, try:

• Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge
• A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas
• We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

CLICK HERE to book your tickets for Magic and Mayhem with Leigh Bardugo and Melinda Salisbury at Seven Stories on Friday 23 October 2015.

*New Event* Magic and Mayhem with Leigh Bardugo and Melinda Salisbury

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.  Six of Crows is out this September.

Don’t miss your chance to meet New York Times’ best-selling author Leigh Bardugo at Seven Stories on Friday 23 October at 6pm. An outspoken and hugely warm and witty speaker –  she will tell all about her brand new book Six of Crows.  Leigh will be joined by special guest Melinda Salisbury, a debut author with a glittering future, as they bring plenty of magic and far too much mayhem to Seven Stories.  Fans of YA fiction will love hearing from these leading names in the fantasy genre and picking up top tips about their writing process.

Here are just a handful of nuggets from Leigh to get you started – Banish perfection. Commit to writing a terrible first draft. Read outside of your comfort zone to help develop your own voice. There is no expiration date on your talent.

Leigh Bardugo is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Grisha Trilogy: Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising. She was born in Jerusalem, grew up in Los Angeles, and graduated from Yale University, and has worked in advertising, journalism, and most recently, makeup and special effects. These days, she’s lives and writes in Hollywood where she can occasionally be heard singing with her band.

Click here to book your tickets before they fly away.

Event fee is £5 per person.  Admission to the centre is free. Event tickets can be redeemed against a copy of the authors’ books. This offer is valid only on book sales at Seven Stories on October 23rd and only redeemable against books by Leigh Bardugo and Melinda Salisbury.

Join the conversation #SixofCrows #grishaarmy @7Stories 

BOOK REVIEW: One by Sarah Crossan

One by Sarah Crossan

£10.99 (Bloomsbury)

“Here

We Are.

And we are living.

Isn’t that amazing?

How we manage

to be

at all’’

When a copy of Sarah Crossan’s new book arrived one Friday in the Seven Stories office, I immediately knew what my weekend was going to entail- tea, poetry, and quite likely- tears. I wasn’t wrong. I read One in one sitting, and it has been with me since.

Written in a distinctive style of free verse, One tells the emotional story of conjoined twins Tippi and Grace– two teenagers up against difficult decisions- not only dangerous separation surgery and the endless pressure of media interest, but also the usual difficulties facing teenagers- friends, bullies, love, sisters, identity. In addition, their individual emotions, interests and fears are intertwined, affected by the love and bond between them.

Emotional and insightful, this book was beautifully written. The lyrical language and emotion of each poem set the pace of the storytelling and the emotions wonderfully, and also allowed for a closeness to be developed with the protagonist- I really felt I was stepping into Grace’s inner monologue.

A magnificent piece of writing, this book raises and deals with issues sensitively- it is without a doubt the most powerful YA book I have read this year to date. I highly recommend it- and whilst you are waiting for its publication, read The Weight of Water– you won’t be disappointed!

I’m really looking forward to Sarah Crossan’s event at Seven Stories in September, alongside the fantastic Jenny McLachlan and their agent Julia Churchill- for click here for tickets and I’ll see you there!

Jenny x

An Evening with Patrick Ness this November

We could not be more excited to announce that the brilliant Patrick Ness will be with us this November for an event celebrating the release of his new novel The Rest of Us Just Live Here.

“On the day we’re the last people to see indie kid Finn alive, we’re all sprawled together in The Field, talking about love and stomachs.”

Don’t miss two time Carnegie Medal Winner and YA favourite, Patrick Ness as he discusses his brand-new book The Rest of Us Just Live Here (released November 2015). Hear Patrick talk candidly about his writing process, where he finds inspiration for his dystopian novels and what he thinks the future for the genre holds.

Talking about his new book, Patrick said, “What if you lived in a world a lot like a YA novel? Where people you know have already battled vampires and zombies and soul-eating ghosts and whatever this new thing turns out to be? What if you just want to go to prom and graduate before someone goes and blows up the high school again? I wanted to write a novel for anyone trying to live a normal life in a world gone mad, for anyone who actually has bigger problems than this week’s end of the world, for anyone who needs to find out that there are many different kinds of extraordinary.”

10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Patrick Ness:

1. He has a tattoo of a rhinoceros.

2. He has run two marathons.

3. He is a certified scuba diver.

4. Patrick wrote a radio comedy about vampires.

5. He has never been to New York City but…

6. But has been to Sydney, Auckland and Tokyo.

7. Patrick was accepted into film school but turned it down to study writing.

8. Patrick was a goth as a teenager (well, as much of a goth as you could be in Tacoma, Washington and still have to go to church every Sunday).

9. He is no longer a goth.

10.Under no circumstances will  he eat onions.

Click here to book your tickets and find out even more about one of the outstanding YA author of this generation at Seven Stories this November. This event will be followed by a Q&A and book signing.

BOOK REVIEW: Half Bad by Sally Green

Looking for a great book to read in the sunshine this weekend? Seven Stories Bookseller and CAST member Fionn Oaks reviews Half Bad by Sally Green.

Sixteen-year-old Nathan lives in a cage: beaten, shackled, trained to kill. In a modern-day England where two warring factions of witches live amongst humans, Nathan is an abomination, the illegitimate son of the world’s most terrifying and violent witch, Marcus. Nathan’s only hope for survival is to escape his captors, track down Marcus, and receive the three gifts that will bring him into his own magical powers—before it’s too late. But how can Nathan find his father when there is no one safe to trust, not even family, not even the girl he loves?

Half Bad is an international sensation and the start of a brilliant trilogy: a gripping tale of alienation and the indomitable will to survive.

Oh. My. God. How this only gets an avg. of 3.8 stars on Goodreads is beyond me. Honestly, Half Bad is the first book in a long time that got me turning the page with an equal amount of enthusiasm all the way through. Not once was I bored, not once did I not care, I finished this book with just as much excitement as I started it. And, with all the hype being thrown its way in the past year, that is a lot.

Nathan is an instantly likeable character, and I was rooting for him all the way through. Why is he in a cage? Who knows, he could have murdered millions of people and be in there doing a prison sentence for life and I still would have wanted him out of that cage.

I really would like to refrain from mentioning Harry Potter when discussing Half Bad but I also kind of don’t, because it works so well. So right, Half Bad is like Harry Potter… but Voldermort was Lily’s baby daddy, you feel me? And Harry is caught between the pressures of good and evil, and he is constantly trying to prove himself as one thing or the other.

OK so it’s really not like Harry Potter at all. But you get what I’m saying. Marcus has that Voldemort feel. He is scary, we can’t talk about him, and yet he hovers around the entirety of the story. He is everything Nathan does, and everything he says. He is all Nathan can think about – when he isn’t thinking about kissing his former classmate Annalise that is.

Then you meet Gabriel, the long-haired mysterious Black witch who totally captured my heart. Be still my chest Gabriel.

Anyway. This book reads as a very long – but very entertaining – prologue to a massively exciting series. I can’t wait to read the next book Half Wild which is due to be published on March 24th (so like in two days time!), where I hope to find out more about the father-son relationship between Nathan and Marcus, and also Gabriel. My all new fiction crush. Bae.

Surprised this didn’t win the YA Book Prize 2015, but as I have not read the winner (Only Ever Yours by Louise O’Neill – which I am currently reading just by the way) I am not exactly one to judge. We’ll see what I think when I have actually finished it.

But yes. Half Bad was amazing, and I would recommend to anyone 14+ with a love of magic, adventure and wit. Oh, you grew up with Harry Potter? Even better. You’re in for a real treat, my friend.

Fionn

BOOK REVIEW: We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen

Fionn Oakes – Bookseller and CAST member at Seven Stories reviews We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen.

Expected publication date: May 2015, Andersen Press

Award-winning author Susin Nielsen has created two narrators who will steal your heart and make you laugh out loud.

Thirteen-year-old Stewart is academically brilliant but socially clueless. 
Fourteen-year-old Ashley is the undisputed “It” girl in her class, but her grades stink.

Their worlds are about to collide when Stewart and his dad move in with Ashley and her mom. Stewart is trying to be 89.9 percent happy about it, but Ashley is 110 percent horrified. She already has to hide the real reason her dad moved out; “Spewart” could further threaten her position at the top of the social ladder.

They are complete opposites. And yet, they have one thing in common: they—like everyone else—are made of molecules.

This book. Just. This book.

I was not a fan of The Curious Incident. Didn’t get it. Haven’t even been able to finish the damn thing. However, We Are All Made of Molecules? This is a book I can fully get behind. Although not marketed as such, the main character Stewart is certainly on the spectrum, but not explicitly. At all. It isn’t even mentioned, but the appearance of an autistic character in YA literature – where it isn’t the story – is brilliant.

On to the actual story.

Stewart and his dad are moving in with Ashley and her mom. It has been two years since Stewart’s mom died of cancer and he doesn’t want anyone to forget about it. Ashley’s Dad came out last year and left Ashley’s mom to live in the shed outside. Times are hard. And it is entirely possible he himself has got a new relationship in his life, but nobody can know about it. Not even Ashley’s best friend.

So when Stewart moves in, all full of the world and wanting to be friends with Ashely, she has already had enough. She does not want to speak to Stewart and she certainly does not want to be friends. This is neither at school, nor at home.

Will Ashley find a way to allow Stewart and his dad into her life, and can she accept her dad for who he is? Can Stewart learn a little bit more about the world and manage to show Ashley how much she could benefit from his help? Will these two teenagers learn to live with each other – or maybe even thrive through the new adventure of siblingship?

What am I talking about again? I got lost in my weird words of description.

(What is siblingship? It’s a thing.)

Stewart is an instantly likeable character with a good heart and some brilliant one-liners. His narrative is honest, optimistic and loving. I haven’t liked a main character as much in a while. Ashley, on the other hand, is pretty unlikable. But the reader can see that is just annoyance. She blames her dad for breaking up her family, and can not yet see his struggle. Her character can be seen as a bit one dimensional, but I think that is part of her grieving process and constant battle to be read as ‘top of the food chain’ at high school.

I would thoroughly recommend We Are All Made of Molecules, it was funny in places, sad in others but entertaining throughout. Brilliant for anyone over the age of thirteen with a love of interesting stories and compelling language.

(Trigger warnings for the book **SPOILER**: homophobia, rape.)

Fionn 

BOOK REVIEW: The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart

Seven Stories Learning and Participation Assistant Jenny Rohde reviews The Honest Truth by Dan Germeinhart (Chicken House, £6.99)

“The mountain was calling me. I had to run away. I had to”

The Honest Truth is a tale of adventure and determination from debut author Dan Gemeinhart. The book begins with protagonist Mark, who appears to be taking a bag of few possessions, his camera and his loyal dog Beau and running away, looking to the mountain on the horizon. He leaves a note for his parents, buys a bus ticket and is on his way.

The story then cuts to chapter 1 ½ – told from a differing perspective. A frantic phone call from his mother, and hints that perhaps we should be more concerned about Mark than we first thought. Hints of illness are dropped, of doctors, treatments and struggle.

We learn that Mark has had cancer- and it’s returned. Fed up of treatments and hospitals, he decides he wants to do something his granddad always dreamed of- to climb to the top of Mount Rainer. Even if it’s the last thing he ever does.

The story is told in alternating chapters and ‘half-chapters’ from Mark’s perspective and that of his best friend Jessie, who works out his plan when she finds a note from him. The book cleverly places you in Jessie’s shoes emotionally, as you are conflicted between wanting Mark to be found, and safe (especially in the face of some challenges he comes across), and rooting for him to reach the top of the mountain and fulfil his final ambition.

Mark records his journey in photographs and haikus. There are also haikus interspersed within the text, especially used to punctuate the beginnings and ends of Jessie’s chapters. For example, the moment when Jessie finds a note from Mark;

“A secret message.

Unfolding papers whisper.

A friend’s last goodbye.”

I found these to be effective- and know so because I didn’t pick up on them straight away- they are not in just for the gimmick!

I also enjoyed the description of the physical climb up the mountain (which I have since found out is an active stratovolcano!) of glacial ice, crevasses and other landforms. This of course mirrors Mark’s emotional journey, with his relationship with his dog dominant throughout.

I must confess I read a lot of this book through tears- but not in a schmaltzy way- don’t be put off by the initial ‘yet another book about cancer’ thought- the book isn’t about illness. It’s about determination, friendship, secrets and escape.

Impassioned journey,

I read it in one sitting.

Will he reach the top?