The Notorious Virtues - Blog Tour

Welcome to the my stop on the Write Reads’s UltimateTour for The Nortorious Virtues by Alwyn Hamilton! Before we go any further, let me give you the blurb (look at me trying to be professional) then we can chat (this blurb can be found on Goodreads, StoryGraph & [Affiliate Link Alert] Bookshop.org)

A glamorous media darling, a surprise heiress, and the magical competition of a lifetime.

At sixteen, Honora “Nora” Holtzfall is the daughter of the most powerful heiress in all of Walstad. Her family controls all the money–and all the magic–in the entire country. But despite being the center of attention, Nora has always felt like an outsider. When her mother is found dead in an alley, the family throne and fortune are suddenly up for grabs, and Nora will be pitted against her cousins in the Veritaz, the ultimate magical competition for power that determines the one family heir.

But there’s a surprise contestant this time: Lotte, the illegitimate daughter of Nora’s aunt. When Lotte’s absent mother retrieves her from the rural convent she’d abandoned her to, Lotte goes from being an orphan to surrounded by family. Unfortunately, most of them want her dead.

And soon, Nora discovers that her mother’s death wasn’t random–it was murder. And the only person she can trust to uncover the truth of what happened is a rakish young reporter who despises everything Nora and her family stand for.

With everyone against her, Lotte’s last hope is hunting for the identity of her father. But the dangerous competition–and her feelings for Theo, one of the Holtzfalls’ sworn protectors–turns her world upside down.

Incredible tests, impossible choices and deadly odds await both girls. But there can only be one winner.

Now, years ago, I read Alwyn’s debut, Rebel in the Sands, and adored it. So much so, I couldn’t make myself finish the series as *whisper* what if the rest of the books didn’t hit the heights of Rebel. So, when the lovely people at Write Reads did a call out for this, I jumped straight in. 

But as I was reading this, I realised that I didn’t want to write a review for it. I want you guys to go into this knowing as little as possible as, the more you know, it kinda ruins the mystery/fun. Plus, this is the first book in a series so the mystery lingers and carries over (though if you are a fan Libba Bray’s The Diviners series, you might want to check this out). 

So was thinking of slightly different post to give you vibes. A mood board, I first pondered, but most of my ideas were very 1920s (see above). So, I went to my natural go-to: Music. And I had such fun discovering songs that will give you a vibe of this book or hints of what you will find. 

In other words: 

So, here you go and remember, the devil is in the detail (and thank you again to Write Reads for allowing me to be involved in the tour).

Rebel of the Sands Book 3 Title Reveal!

As you guys know, I love Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton when I read it back in 2015 and I have been holding off reading Traitor to the Throne as am excited/scared it won't live up to my expectation/hope plus I want to read it quite close to the release of the third and final book in the series (but I sense I will be reading it in the next few months).

Anyway, a bunch of bloggers in the UK and the US are now revealing the title for the third and final book in the series. 3pm UK time, 10am US time approx. So, it's time to reveal the title. And a blurb for the book as well. WHY NOT!

Are you ready? Brace yourselves... here it comes...

Book Review - Rebel in the Sands

This is Faber's YA big hitter for 2016. They have been building up for this debut for over a year now. That is how sure they are that this book is going to be everything we readers want to read.

But will it live up to the buzz that has slowly been growing since early 2015?

Amani is desperate to escape Dustwalk. The desert is in her bones, more comfortable holding a gun in her hand and shooting straight, that escape is beyond a want. It's a need.

When a stranger with no name turns up at a shooting range and saves her life, she is given the chance to run. Run and not look back. She takes it. But the desert is full of dangers, blood and magic. Soon, Amani is going to find herself in the middle in the rebellion and discover something about herself that might change her from being the gun who taught herself how to fire a gun...

So, this book. My reactions? I really liked it. I think fans of Zoe Marriott, Garth Nix and Laini Taylor will enjoy this mashed-up Arabian Nights Western.

While this world, the dangers and characters were fantastical, they all felt grounded and rooted. There was an element of realness that I hugely liked and made me keep reading. Plus, the world building and character development was subtle and very clever, which is a good sign that these will continue to grow. over the trilogy.

There is a hint of a romance storyline, but this is very subtle and isn't overwhelming, which is refreshing. There are books out there that make the romance quite overpowering.

What was also refreshing about the book was the mythology. I can only think of one book that uses djinn, and that is an adult literary novel. Seeing it here was an interesting twist within in YA fantasy.

Because of everything that happened in my real, non-blog life (work, family, Bagheera, boyfriend, possible holiday planning, the What Makes Us Human tour, etc), I found the first half of reading this book a little tricky as I couldn't sit down long enough to get into the story. Because of this, at times, I was a little overwhelmed with the world and mythology being giving to us, but once I got to the halfway mark, I found my stride and became to speed through.

This might be everyone's cup of tea, but I enjoyed myself quite a bit and am very eager to read the next book in the series.

Rebel of the Sands Trailer

I'm currently reading this now (Hopefully, I will read this before the book's release. Stupid reading slump throwing me off my reading game for a month!), but when the lovely Hannah emailed to say they were going to release a book trailer for Alwyn Hamilton's Rebel of the Sands, I knew I had to show you guys.

So, with no further ado, TA-DAH!!!

Rebel of the Sands - COVER REVEAL!

I am quite excited in being involved in this cover reveal. Faber is so excited over this book - this is gonna be their big book of next year! And after reading the first few chapters, I can't wait to read this!

So... are you ready to see the cover? Well... here it is!

Doesn't it look pretty? There's something evocative about the cover, and I have heard rumours that the gold will be foiled so the book will have that extra factor.

Also, the people at Faber have revealed a Gif to begin the hype of the book. But yes, I am very excited over this book and I can't wait to get my hands on this book next year!