Review: The Shadow Cabinet by Maureen Johnson

Title: The Shadow Cabinet (Shades of London #3)
Author: Maureen Johnson
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Fantasy
Source: Hot Key Books
Goodreads

Grieving, shaken, and feeling very much alone, Rory's life as a member of the Shades of London has changed irrevocably. It's only been a matter of hours since Stephen was taken from her, possibly for ever. Her classmate Charlotte is still missing, kidnapped by the same people who tried to take Rory. Rory is no longer a schoolgirl haplessly involved in the dealings of a secret government unit. She is their weapon in a matter of life and death.

With hardly a moment to think for herself, Rory is back to work. Charlotte must be found -- as must Stephen, if he is even out there. Lines must be drawn and forces rallied. Something is brewing under London, something bigger and much more dangerous than what has come before. The Shadow Cabinet holds the key to everything, and it is up to Rory to unravel its mysteries before time runs out...

Review by Nara

Review: The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski

Title: The Winner's Crime (The Winner's Trilogy #2)
Author: Marie Rutkoski
Genre: Young Adult, High Fantasy (sort of)
Source: Bloomsbury Australia
Goodreads

Lady Kestrel's engagement to Valoria's crown prince calls for great celebration: balls and performances, fireworks and revelry. But to Kestrel it means a cage of her own making. Embedded in the imperial court as a spy, she lives and breathes deceit and cannot confide in the one person she really longs to trust ...

While Arin fights to keep his country's freedom from the hands of his enemy, he suspects that Kestrel knows more than she shows. As Kestrel comes closer to uncovering a shocking secret, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth.

Lies will come undone, and Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them in this second book in the breathtaking Winner's trilogy.

Review by Nara

Read ALL THE BOOKS Update: February/March

If you don't know what this post is about, you can read this introduction post. Basically, I realised I have way too many unread books on my physical shelves, and so I'm going to try read as many of them as possible in the coming months. I'll probably continue this feature until I finish them all...but I don't know whether that will actually happen seeing as though I keep buying books. And borrowing books from the library. And requesting eARCs. Tis a problem.

My definition for "unread" either means that I haven't read the book at all, or that I haven't read that particular copy of the book (might have read it before as an eARC or something)

Well, it's now Week 10 of hospital placements, and I'm now at a hospital closer to my house woo! No more (too) early mornings. The past nine weeks of my clinical placements were at a hospital which is freaking far away (in Adelaide terms, anyway), and we had to come it at 7am some days, which is gross. And had resulted in me doing a lot of napping, which is something I don't normally really do. The whole getting up early and then going home and napping situation meant that I haven't really read as much as I normally do on weekdays, but I do set aside some reading time on the weekend, so I've still been reading a fair bit.

Oh, and I also discovered that SARAH J MAAS IS FREAKING COMING TO ADELAIDE MY GOD SO EXCITED I CAN'T EVEN. The good thing about Adelaide bookish events is that there usually aren't that many people lol. More one on one time with Sarah J Maas! I'll probably just be standing there in silent awe of her beauty though, let's be honest.

Review: Endangered by Lamar Giles

Title: Endangered
Author: Lamar Giles
Genre: Young Adult, Mystery/Thriller
Source: HarperTeen via Edelweiss
Goodreads

Endangered is a thrilling page-turner perfect for fans of Barry Lyga's I Hunt Killers.

The one secret she cares about keeping—her identity—is about to be exposed. Unless Lauren "Panda" Daniels—an anonymous photoblogger who specializes in busting classmates and teachers in compromising positions—plays along with her blackmailer's little game of Dare or . . . Dare.

But when the game turns deadly, Panda doesn't know what to do. And she may need to step out of the shadows to save herself . . . and everyone else on the Admirer's hit list.

Review by Nara

Review: Liars, Inc. by Paula Stokes

Title: Liars, Inc
Author: Paula Stokes
Genre: Young Adult, Mystery/Thriller
Release Date: 24 March, 2015
Source: HarperTeen via Edelweiss
Goodreads

For fans of Gone Girl, I Hunt Killers, and TV's How to Get Away with Murder.

Max Cantrell has never been a big fan of the truth, so when the opportunity arises to sell forged permission slips and cover stories to his classmates, it sounds like a good way to make a little money and liven up a boring senior year. With the help of his friends Preston and Parvati, Max starts Liars, Inc. Suddenly everybody needs something and the cash starts pouring in. Who knew lying could be so lucrative?

When Preston wants his own cover story to go visit a girl he met online, Max doesn’t think twice about hooking him up. Until Preston never comes home. Then the evidence starts to pile up—terrifying clues that lead the cops to Preston’s body. Terrifying clues that point to Max as the murderer.

Can Max find the real killer before he goes to prison for a crime he didn’t commit? In a story that Kirkus Reviews called "Captivating to the very end," Paula Stokes starts with one single white lie and weaves a twisted tale that will have readers guessing until the explosive final chapters.

Review by Nara

Under the Radar Recommendations

This post is a part of Contemporary Conversations, hosted by The Thousand Lives and Talking Bookworm.

Evident from the title, this post will be featuring those underrated books that everyone should read! In general, I feel like there are actually a lot of books that are hyped up around the blogosphere that haven't quite been a hit with the general public readership- books like Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas and Golden by Jessi Kirby. This post won't be talking about those books. This post will feature those books that haven't even really been seen too much around the blogosphere- true under the radar recommendations.

Review: Every Last Promise by Kristin Halbrook

Title: Every Last Promise
Author: Kristin Halbrook
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Release Date: 21 April, 2015
Source: HarperTeen via Edelweiss
Goodreads

Perfect for fans of Laurie Halse Anderson and Gayle Forman, Every Last Promise is a provocative and emotional novel about a girl who must decide between keeping quiet and speaking up after witnessing a classmate's sexual assault.

Kayla saw something at the party that she wasn't supposed to. But she hasn't told anyone. No one knows the real story about what happened that night--about why Kayla was driving the car that ran into a ditch after the party, about what she saw in the hours leading up to the accident, and about the promise she made to her friend Bean before she left for the summer.

Now Kayla's coming home for her senior year. If Kayla keeps quiet, she might be able to get her old life back. If she tells the truth, she risks losing everything--and everyone--she ever cared about.

Review by Nara