Books Via Ashley

Map of Shadows by J. F. Penn *I received free copy to review from the publisher in exchange for an honest review* Synopsis (from Goodreads) When her Grandfather is murdered under mysterious circumstances, Sienna Farren inherits his map shop in the ancient city of Bath, England. Once there, she discovers that her family is bound up with the Ministry of Maps, a mysterious agency who maintain the borders between this world and the Uncharted. With the help of Mila Wendell, a traveller on the canals, Sienna discovers her own magical ability and a terrifying place of blood that awaits in the world beyond. But when she discovers a truth about her past and the Borderlands begin to push through the defenses, Sienna must join the team of Mapwalkers on their mission to find the Map of Shadows – whatever the cost. In a place written out of history, a world off the edge of the map, Sienna must risk everything to find her father … and her true path as a Mapwalker. Review This book had ...

Gone Viking by Helen Russell * I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review * Synopsis (from Goodreads) Frazzled mum Alice Ray likes to think she’s on top everything – she has FOUR bags-for-life in the boot of her car for heaven's sake. But after spectacularly embarrassing herself at work, she finally gives in to her sister’s pleas to take a much needed break. But this is not the luxury spa holiday Alice hoped for – instead, she finds herself in Denmark, in the middle of nowhere, on a ‘How to be a Viking’ getaway. Can the two sisters finally learn to get along or will learning to embrace their inner warrior just make them better at fighting? Review This book had zany characters and hilarious situations, but also some tender, heartfelt moments. It also made me want to craft a sword and build a boat and be a Viking! Alice is a very uptight woman who has a tragic past. Her way of dealing with that--with anything really--is to...

Flame in the Mist by Renée Ahdieh Synopsis ( from Goodreads ) "At just seventeen years old, Mariko is sent to the imperial palace to meet her betrothed, a man she did not choose, for the very first time. But the journey is cut short when Mariko’s convoy is viciously attacked by the Black Clan, a dangerous group of bandits who’ve been hired to kill Mariko before she reaches the palace. "The lone survivor, Mariko narrowly escapes to the woods, where she plots her revenge. Dressed as a peasant boy, she sets out to infiltrate the Black Clan and hunt down those responsible for the target on her back. Once she’s within their ranks, though, Mariko finds for the first time she’s appreciated for her intellect and abilities. She even finds herself falling in love—a love that will force her to question everything she’s ever known about her family, her purpose, and her deepest desires." Review I received this book in my May FairyLoot box. I'm conflicted. I liked lo...

Empress of a Thousand Skies - Rhoda Belleza Synopsis ( from Goodreads ) "Rhee is the only surviving heir to an ancient Kalusian dynasty. Alyosha is a Wraetan who has risen above his war refugee origins to find fame as the dashing star of a DroneVision show. Their paths collide with one brutal act of violence: Rhee is attacked, barely escaping with her life. Aly is blamed for her presumed murder. The princess and her accused killer are forced to go into hiding - even as a war between planets is waged in Rhee's name. But soon, Rhee and Aly discover that the assassination attempt is just one part of a sinister plot. Bound together by an evil that only they can stop, the two fugitives must join forces to save the galaxy." Review This was our March 2017 Book Club pick! This book received a lot of hype. I actually got the physical paperback, and the cover is gorgeous, plus there's a great map. I think the biggest thing that bugged me about this book was the blurb...

Caraval - Stephanie Garber Synopsis ( From Goodreads ) Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over. But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner. Review I read the whole book one Sunday afternoon! The feel I got from it as was a little Alice in Wonderland-esque, with all the crazy rule-defying things and how nothing was ever as it seemed, mixed with some of the the grandeur and magic of The Night Circus (...

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead Synposis Cora is a third-generation slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia. One day, a fellow slave, Caeser, approaches her about running away. They do so by using the Underground Railroad, which in this story is quite literal. With a slave catcher on their tail, Cora is forced to flee again and again in her pursuit for freedom. Review This book won some awards and was included on several "Best of 2016" lists. The story itself kept me engaged. The author never promised a happy ending for anyone, so I was constantly on my toes, wondering whether the characters would live or die. That being said, I wish a few more characters had somehow miraculously survived, but I guess that would undermine the effect the author was trying to create. The Underground Railroad being a literal thing was a good premise to start with, though the author never goes into the logistics of it... Like how no one hears a train engine going undergr...

The Woman in Cabin 10  - Ruth Ware Synopsis Lo Blackwood, a travel journalist, has the assignment of her career: one of ten slots on the maiden voyage of the luxury passenger ship, the Aurora .  From the moment she steps on board, Lo is swept up in the plush interior and free-flowing alcohol, hob-nobbing with rich and important people. The night after departure, Lo is awoken by scream and a loud splash. She is sure she witnessed someone being thrown overboard, complete with blood smeared on the deck. And yet, when security comes, the blood is gone, and all passengers are accounted for. Lo is sure of what she saw, but as she begins to investigate, things begin to spiral out of control. Review This book is like a Hitchcock thriller, or Agatha Christie. There's a girl who disappears but no one else has seen her and no one is missing. Who was she and where could she have gone? Who is hiding something? The main character doesn't quite trust her own mind and has an...

The Glittering Court - Richelle Mead Review: This book was engaging and well-written, but the story was… unexpected? When you read “Glittering Court” and look at that cover and hear that it’s fantasy, you expect, well, something fantastic. Like Magic. The book gives off the idea or expectation of some magical glittering Fae court, but it is nothing like that. And after reading reviews of the book on Goodreads and Amazon, and I am definitely not the only one who felt misled. The book is set in a different world (hence why it can be called “fantasy”), but really it’s just our world with different names. While the world is vast and Mead does a good job of describing the towns and cities and cultures, I dislike it when authors take already existing cultures in our world and just rename them in theirs. It had me wondering if it was just an alternate history of our world? For instance, the Sirminicans were obviously Spanish/Italian, but with a terrible civil war that is just like S...

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton Synopsis In Amsterdam, 1686, young Nella Oortman has married a very wealthy--and much older--merchant, Johannes Brant. She moves from her little village and into his house in the city. Her new husband is kind, but unfortunately has no real interest in her, and leaves her alone in the house with his spinster sister, Marin, and the two servants. As a wedding gift, Johannes buys her a miniature version of their house. She finds a miniaturist and sends a request for things to furnish the little house. But then Nella starts receiving packages that she didn't ask for, and the Miniaturist seems to know things that should be impossible for anyone outside the house to know. As things grow more dangerous for the family, Nella finds herself drawn to the elusive Miniaturist--Are they predicting what will happen, or are they the cause? Review The story's creepy and suspenseful premise, plus the setting in Amsterdam during its Golden Era, is what ...

I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella Synopsis Poppy Wyatt is engaged to handsome Magnus Tavish, a brilliant academic from a brilliant, nerdy, academic family. They're all set to get married in just a few weeks, though she struggles with feeling inadequate and inferior to her fiancee and his family. But then she loses her phone, and her engagement ring, on the same day. Luckily she finds a spare phone in the rubbish, which happens to belong to Sam Roxton, a practical and often socially inept executive at a prestigious company. He agrees to let her keep the phone if she helps him with some work while he looks for a new assistant (the last one having ditched the phone in the bin when she quit). Poppy begins to find out more about Sam's life, and begins to interfere little by little, her actions having often hilarious consequences. As Poppy juggles wedding prep, hiding the missing ring from her fiancé, and meddling with Sam, she begins to really think about what--and...