Life by Committee by Corey Ann Haydu

Life by Committee by Corey Ann Haydu

Release Date: May 13, 2014
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Rated: YA 14+
Format: eGalley
Source: Edelweiss
Buy: Amazon ● The Book Depository
Goodreads ● Website

Some secrets are too good to keep. 

Tabitha might be the only girl in the history of the world who actually gets less popular when she gets hot. But her so-called friends say she’s changed, and they’ve dropped her flat. 

Now Tab has no one to tell about the best and worst thing that has ever happened to her: Joe, who spills his most intimate secrets to her in their nightly online chats. Joe, whose touch is so electric, it makes Tab wonder if she could survive an actual kiss. Joe, who has Tabitha brimming with the restless energy of falling in love. Joe, who is someone else’s boyfriend.

Just when Tab is afraid she’ll burst from keeping the secret of Joe inside, she finds Life by Committee. The rules of LBC are simple: tell a secret, receive an assignment. Complete the assignment to keep your secret safe. 

Tab likes it that the assignments push her to her limits, empowering her to live boldly and go further than she’d ever go on her own.

But in the name of truth and bravery, how far is too far to go?

From the get-go, I knew this one would be different. I mean the title – Life by Committee. Peaks your interest, doesn’t it? A secret “society” with assignments for a secret is definitely not the typical contemporary. Personally, I would not see the appeal of trading secrets for dares aka tasks related to the secret, but this definitely sounded pretty cool and I was intrigued to see where this would lead.
The cover made sense later on in the book. I was really confused about it before reading the book, because it didn’t seem to relate to the book at all. At first I was like, “Ooo cute shoes... but wait, what does that even have to do with the story...” but it turns out that they do play quite a part in the novel.

Tab – short for Tabitha – was someone I could relate to and empathise with. She had perfectly normal reactions as a teenager, besides the LBC thing of course, and I could see why her character didn’t want to give into her former friends. I love her fascination with marginal comments in books, and I too LOVE The Secret Garden (but have yet to read A Little Princess – I really liked the movie though!). She’s into romance movies as well (so am I!), and so it’s clear to see, other than the whole risk-taking thing, I enjoyed being able relate so closely with the character.
Ugh Joe. I didn’t like him right from the start. I mean, if a guy constantly keeps focusing on the fact that you’re hot, and doesn’t talk about the other amazing qualities a person might have, a little bit weird and suspicious right? But then again, I could see how she could be completely blind to this in the “relationship” they have. I mean, if a hot guy said he wants to be with you, I get that she would be swept away in the idea of a fairy-tale romance. But nope! No go, Joe. No go.

On a side note, the story reminded me a lot of the TV show Awkward. A girl in a secret relationship with a popular boy (who is a jock no less), young parents who had her when they were teenagers, changes that lead to complications with friends– there are quite a few similarities! I only saw it after though, which was good, otherwise I would have pictured the actors with the characters, and thus gotten confused with the story, mixing it up with the television plot line.
There’s (of course) a twist at the end of all of this. Something to do with the last person I would have ever expected things to happen with, and it really does come together and make sense. The ending was kind of like a cliché high school movie from the 90’s (think She’s All That), but it was sweet and I liked it.

Life by Committee was riveting and remarkable, and Corey Ann Haydu’s gorgeous novel kept my eyes glued to the pages. I haven’t read OCD Love Story yet, but it sounds original, just like this one, as I’m sure will her other books to come. Looking forward to more from this fantastic author!

If you like this, try...

• Welcome, Caller, This Is Chloe by Shelley Coriell ● Goodreads
• Speechless by Hannah Harrington ● Goodreads

Royally Lost by Angie Stanton

Royally Lost by Angie Stanton

Release Date: May 6, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Rated: YA 14+
Format: eGalley
Source: Edelweiss
Buy: Amazon ● The Book Depository
Goodreads ● Website

Dragged on a family trip to Europe’s ancient cities, Becca wants nothing more than to go home. Trapped with her emotionally distant father, over-eager stepmother, and a brother who only wants to hook up with European hotties, Becca is miserable. That is until she meets Nikolai, a guy as mysterious as he is handsome. And she unknowingly finds herself with a runaway prince.

Nikolai has everything a guy could ask for-he's crown prince, heir to the throne, and girls adore him. But the one thing he doesn't have...is freedom. Staging a coup, he flees his kingdom and goes undercover on his own European tour.

When Nikolai and Becca meet, it’s their differences that draw them together. Sparks fly as they share a whirlwind of adventures, all the while dodging his royal guard. But Becca's family vacation ends in a matter of days. Will Nikolai and Becca be forced to say goodbye forever, will his destiny catch up to him, or will they change history forever?

After reading the blurb I decided to give Royally Lost a go because it reminded me so much of Roman Holiday, a movie I ADORE. I’m also a sucker for fluffy contemporaries, and since I haven’t read one in ages I decided this would be healthy for me... you know, to have a good ol’ dose of romance and swoonosity. Traveling through Europe is also something I hope to do with my friends one day. We’ve made numerous plans to go sometime next year, because a couple of them are going to study in the UK, and so this made me all the more excited. When it came to reading Stanton’s book however, there were parts that were absolutely great– and then there were parts that flopped.

What I really enjoyed about this one was it looked like the author really did her research. I learned so much about the historical landmarks, and since this was a part of Europe that I haven’t been to (yet) I was really interested in learning more about it. The author really lay down some amazing descriptions and facts about the places that the characters visit, and this added a cultural richness that I’ve seen absent in several YA books about Europe. Nikolai is from a country called Mondovia, and even though it’s a made-up one, I’m glad it didn’t bother me. Because, I mean, hello? GENOVIA, anyone? Anyway, I think it could be based off of Moldova, or somewhere else in Europe, because there’s quite a few places with similar names!
What I also liked about this novel was that there was definitely enough plot to keep me interested. I wasn’t thrown into the romance completely, and glad to see that there were complications involved... not like a sugary-sweet fairy tale that only has good things going for it’s principal characters.

However, what I didn’t particularly like about the book had more to do with it’s main character, Becca. Her constant whining near drove me up a wall, it was too much at times. I mean, you’re in EUROPE. While people from Europe could possibly claim that it can be boring, not too many people get the chance to travel to the historically-rich country. I’m extremely lucky that my family and I get the chance to travel around a lot, and even I don’t complain that much about being dragged from landmark to landmark, given that I love to laze around at home doing nothing. Nikolai wasn’t perfect either, but I still think he was a much better character than she was.
Another thing that set me on edge was the insta-love. OH YES. It was only after reading the book when I realised that I’d previously DNF-ed another one of the author’s books – Rock and a Hard Place – 20-25 pages in because I couldn’t STAND the insta-love. I powered through the romance in this one. Getting together is one thing, but saying “I love you” to each other a couple days after you’ve met? CHEE-SY.

Going into this one, I knew I’d be faced with a lot of cliché’s from the contemporary genre. I mean: the cover, the blurb, and the frickin' title scream “clichéd cuteness headed your way”. How fate plays into how they constantly meet and bump into each other in Europe, which I’m sure should have a lot more people to prevent this, and how they simply can’t live without each other, how Becca immediately stands out from the group of American tourists (seriously, what does he even see in her?!) and of course, the royal-born wanting more from life than being photographed and pushed around by his parents, who desperately longs for a life of normalcy. I mean, I’m pretty good at handling clichés but when there’s just a bit too much, it makes me a little bit squeamish with the predictability of the story.

Yeah, the advice I would give when it comes to reading Royally Lost is this: definitely read this book if you’re a fan of CUTE... and I mean a heavy dollop of CUTE with every serving. If the main character’s personality doesn’t bother you, even if she is the most annoying person ever, I would say go ahead and read this for the amazing setting. I fell in love reading this book, and it wasn’t for the romance. The amazing landmarks, the gorgeous setting– heck, if Angie Stanton wrote a whole book about Europe without the irritatingly-quick love blooming and the clichés destroyed, it would be possibly one of the best-written books I’ve ever read. Okay, slight exaggeration, but you get my point. READ IT FOR THE SETTING!

If you like this, try...

• The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith ● Goodreads
• Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard ● Goodreads

Played Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

Played by Liz Fichera

Release Date: May 27, 2014
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Series: Hooked, Book 2
Rated: YA 14+
Format: eGalley
Source: NetGalley
Buy: Amazon ● The Book Depository ● Kindle ● B&N ● Kobo ● iTunes
Goodreads ● Website

Read my review of Hooked HERE

This Game Is Getting All Too Real

He said: I like to keep under the radar and mostly hang out with my friends from the rez. But when I saved Riley Berenger from falling off a mountain, that rich suburban princess decided to try to save me. 


She said: If I can help Sam Tracy win the heart of the girl he can't get over, I'll pay him back for helping me. I promised him I would, no matter what it takes.

I squealed with delight after reading Hooked, as I found out that there would be another book that looks at Riley and Sam’s relationship. I loved Hooked but I’d read it a while ago, so it was great to know that I wouldn’t need to remember a lot of what happened in the previous book going into this one. I liked Played a lot better than Hooked. Hooked was amazing, but this was so much better! I loved coming back to a familiar world and looking at it with new eyes. Liz Fichera definitely has the gift of dealing with multiple perspectives her books.

Is it a surprise that I have a major crush on Sam? I loved seeing the conflict when it comes to his feelings for Riley and Fred, but I also love how there’s so many different small tiny things to him that make him a richer character. I liked that we got to see the relationship with his dad, and what he wants to do later in the future, because it gave a whole-rounded perspective.
Riley was really likeable too! While I didn’t enjoy her during her “dark” phase, I do see the problems she has with being the good child. Sometimes you just gotta let loose right? But unfortunately she learns the hard way that it’s clearly not the way to go. Like Sam she faces conflict with her feelings for two boys – Sam and Jay – but of course, things can happen, and leads to a final choice...

I like how we got to see characters from the previous book in this one, and unlike many other spin-off books where the characters only play a minor role, Fred and Ryan, along with others, actually had a large role to play. Obviously, they weren’t main characters or anything, but their involvement was crucial for the plot.

Played was a fantastic follow-up to Hooked and has easily wormed it’s way into my heart. Liz Fichera brings a compelling novel to the world of YA, and has captured the essence of diversity in YA, needling together two worlds. Can’t wait for more!

If you like this try...

• Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell ● Goodreads
• Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott ● Goodreads

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LIZ FICHERA

I'm an American author living in the American Southwest by way of Chicago.  

Born and raised in Park Ridge, Illinois, I moved to Phoenix, Arizona, after college, never expecting to live more than one year among cactus and people who’d never seen snow. I was wrong. It certainly didn't hurt that I met my future husband in Phoenix too. 

Most of my stories are set in the American Southwest because I think the desert is a cool place. Living in Phoenix, I'm surrounded by Native American culture and influences, not to mention intriguing Hohokam petroglyphs and centuries-old canals. There are over 20 tribes in Arizona and I'm lucky to be neighbors to the Gila River and the Salt River Indian Communities. 


When I'm not busy writing my next novel, I like to travel, visit museums, support local theater productions, hike, and pretend that I'm training for a triathlon. I post a lot of photos from my desert and mountain hikes on my Facebook and Twitter pages. In no particular order, I've been chased by javalinas, rattlesnakes, coyotes, and even one curious black bear.

Website ● Goodreads ● Blog ● Twitter ● Facebook ● Tumblr ● YouTube

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Giveaway time!

Enter to win...

One (1) signed copy of Played by Liz Fichera!

Open Internationally

Enter via the Rafflecopter below

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Check out the rest of the stops on the tour! Click on the tour banner at the top of the post or on the button below.

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Thank you so much to FFBC tours for having me along!

The Edge of Falling by Rebecca Serle

The Edge of Falling by Rebecca Serle

Release Date: March 28, 2014
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Rated: YA 14+
Format: eGalley
Source: Edelweiss
Buy: Amazon ● The Book Depository
Goodreads ● Website

Growing up in privileged, Manhattan social circles, Caggie’s life should be perfect, and it almost was until the day that her younger sister drowned when Caggie was supposed to be watching her. Stricken by grief, Caggie pulls away from her friends and family, only to have everyone misinterpret a crucial moment when she supposedly saves a fellow classmate from suicide. Now she’s famous for something she didn’t do and everyone lauds her as a hero. But inside she still blames herself for the death of her sister and continues to pull away from everything in her life, best friend and perfect boyfriend included. Then Caggie meets Astor, the new boy at school, about whom rumours are swirling and known facts are few. In Astor she finds someone who just might understand her pain, because he has an inner pain of his own. But the more Caggie pulls away from her former life to be with Astor, the more she realises that his pain might be darker, and deeper, than anything she’s ever felt. His pain might be enough to end his life…and Caggie’s as well.

I fell in love with Rebecca Serle’s When You Were Mine, so, without a doubt, I was determined to get my hands on The Edge of Falling, her latest book. Luckily I got the chance to read this early, and while I still think her debut novel was better, The Edge of Falling was a close follow-up. It was a gorgeous read, one I would call a “darker” contemporary, because it does deal with teen issues and isn’t exactly a light and fluffy read. There is a slight twist, which I kind of guessed right off the bat, but it’s still a bit of a shock once you read through the novel.
When I started this book, I’ll admit: I was a little lost and confused. It jumps straight in, and while it does give a description of everyone and everything that’s been going on, I was still a little perplexed by what exactly was happening. I mean, everything does slowly comes together, but GAH I kinda fell into this one blindly.

I liked Caggie because I liked the way she thought. It’s interesting to see the world through her character’s point of view because she addresses things that wouldn’t usually be noticed normally. However, I didn’t like the fact that she keeps to her self. I mean, yes, you went through a traumatic experience that was absolutely tragic, but that doesn’t mean that you cut out everyone in your life and when some guy comes along you drop everything and instead do everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) with him. Speaking of... I didn’t really have a preference for which guy she’d end up with for the first half of the book. Both had their meh-moments and I wasn’t really feeling the swoon-factor all too much. But then, there’s a slight twist and a definite outcome of who she should be with.
While the first parts of the book were really slow, the end definitely picked up. The action becomes more intense and as secrets come out, there’s no saying what could happen. Caggie’s then forced to look to the past and face what had happened on both accounts and I thought that the emotions evoked at this point were really believable and you could easily empathise with her character.

The Edge of Falling was a touching novel: melancholic and dark, yet promising. The narrative sweeps you away into a world of grief and anguish, and Serle has captured me in her words' grasp once again. I’m excited to see what else she’ll write next!

If you like this, try...

• Dreamland by Sarah Dessen ● Goodreads
• Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy ● Goodreads
• Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson ● Goodreads

Waiting on Wednesday – Week 112

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It’s to spotlight upcoming reads that I’m DYING to get my hands on!
First off– I’m back! Did you miss me? I just finished my final exam (French), so that means my high school life is pretty much done. I have my graduation this weekend as well. I’m a little freaked out to be honest! Excited, but still scared. Anyway...

This week’s WoW is:

The Dolls by Kiki Sullivan

Eveny Cheval just moved back to Louisiana after spending her childhood in New York with her aunt Bea. Eveny hasn’t seen her hometown since her mother’s suicide fourteen years ago, and her memories couldn’t have prepared her for what she encounters. Because pristine, perfectly manicured Carrefour has a dark side full of intrigue, betrayal, and lies—and Eveny quickly finds herself at the center of it all.

Enter Peregrine Marceau, Chloe St. Pierre, and their group of rich, sexy friends known as the Dolls. From sipping champagne at lunch to hooking up with the hottest boys, Peregrine and Chloe have everything—including an explanation for what’s going on in Carrefour. And Eveny doesn’t trust them one bit.

But after murder strikes and Eveny discovers that everything she believes about herself, her family, and her life is a lie, she must turn to the Dolls for answers. Something’s wrong in paradise, and it’s up to Eveny, Chloe, and Peregrine to save Carrefour and make it right.

September 2, 2014 ● Goodreads

Firstly, isn’t that cover GORGEOUS?!? That’s what totally caught my eye. This one’s available on Edelweiss, so for sure I’ll be getting my claws paws hands on it soon. Sounds really eerie and thrilling as well. Can’t wait to find out what happens!

What are you waiting on?

It’s that time of year again: Exams!

Hello!

This is probably the billionth time I’ve posted an exams hiatus post on my blog. But that just means y’all are seeing me grow up :) These are actually my final exams for high school. EVER. Yay! Bad news is though, now there’s university exams to look forward to... oh joy.

By the way, ANNOUNCEMENT: 

I have officially decided to attend Boston University, for a major in Film and TV! 

I’m super excited, and to be honest still a little freaked out to be moving halfway around the world, but it also does mean I get to be closer to many of y’all :)

Anyway, exams actually started a week ago, I’m only posting this now, because after this, there will officially be no more posts until I return... which will be the 21st of May, after the French (and my final!) exam.

So to my fellow-IB-exam-takers: Good Luck! We can do this!!

And to the rest of you, I’ll see you in less than two weeks :)

Best,
Rabiah

Waiting on Wednesday – Week 111

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It’s to spotlight upcoming books that I’m DYING to get my hands on!

This week’s WoW is:

Talon by Julie Kagawa

Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.

Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.

Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.

October 28, 2014 ● Goodreads

I’m a HUGE fan of Julie Kagawa and her books! I loved the The Iron Fey series, and have yet to read her spin-off series, The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten, as well as The Blood of Eden series, but I’m definitely looking forward to this one :) Sounds amazing and I don’t think I’ve read a book about dragons recently!

What are you waiting on?

Torn Away Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

Torn Away by Jennifer Brown

Release Date: May 6, 2014
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Rated: YA 14+
Format: eGalley
Source: NetGalley
Buy: Amazon ● The Book Depository
Goodreads ● Website

Born and raised in the Midwest, Jersey Cameron knows all about tornadoes. Or so she thinks. When her town is devastated by a twister, Jersey survives -- but loses her mother, her young sister, and her home. As she struggles to overcome her grief, she's sent to live with her only surviving relatives: first her biological father, then her estranged grandparents.


In an unfamiliar place, Jersey faces a reality she's never considered before -- one in which her mother wasn't perfect, and neither were her grandparents, but they all loved her just the same. Together, they create a new definition of family. And that's something no tornado can touch.

I agree with Giselle's (Xpresso Reads) advice in her review of Torn Away: I STRONGLY recommend not reading the blurb. It actually gives a lot of the story away! But even so, I really enjoyed this book. I’ve never been in a twister or tornado before. The only natural disaster I’ve been in would have to be a typhoon back when I was living in the Philippines. I constantly hear about these happening in the south of the US and the pictures really show how destructive these can be. It was really moving – and scary quite frankly – to read about Jersey’s experience in Torn Away dealing with and the after-effects of this natural disaster.

This was a really short read, and for that reason I felt that it might have packed a LOT in too few pages. I honestly thought it should have been slightly longer, because I mean, it barely scraped the bucket of emotions I was looking forward to reading about, especially character development. This was the only thing I would have really improved, but oh well, there’s still a lot to take in with this novel!
Jersey was a great character, but she didn’t come without her flaws. I understand that she’s completely lost everything, but does she need to be so bugging and relentless all the time? It was near the end where I started to hate her (you’ll see why). Obviously at the end, I came to finally like her, but otherwise she can be a little bit too mean. There are several other characters in the book that you come across, some of them great, some of them awful, so there’s a whole palette of emotions and reactions to go around.

What I did love was the scene of the tornado. It was, as I’d mentioned before, very vivid and detailed, and you could really feel Jersey’s fear coming off the pages. It was one of best written scenes of the book and I could imagine myself in that situation because of the wonderful and horrifying descriptions Jennifer Brown has incorporated.

A story that comes from the heart, Torn Away will blow readers away. Raw and powerful, do NOT hesitate to pick this one up because it will hold you tightly in it’s grasp long after you’ve finished reading. This was my first Jennifer Brown novel, and it definitely won’t be my last.

If you like this, try...

• If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch ● Goodreads
• Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer ● Goodreads

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JENNIFER BROWN

Two-time winner of the Erma Bombeck Global Humor Award (2005 & 2006), Jennifer's weekly humor column appeared in The Kansas City Star for over four years, until she gave it up to be a full-time young adult novelist. 

Jennifer writes and lives in the Kansas City, Missouri area, with her husband and three children.

Website ● Twitter ● Facebook

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Giveaway time!

Thanks to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, one person can win...

a paperback copy of Torn Away!

Unfortunately, as the publisher is mailing this, it is open to the US ONLY

Enter via the Rafflecopter below

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thank you to IFB Tours for having me along! 

Follow the rest of the tour by clicking on the tour banner at the top of the post or by clicking HERE.

Chantress Alchemy Blog Tour: Review + Dream Cast + Giveaway

Chantress Alchemy by Amy Butler Greenfield

Release Date: May 6, 2014
Publisher: Margaret K McElderry Books
Series: Chantress Trilogy, Book 2
Rated: YA 14+
Format: eGalley
Source: Edelweiss
Buy: Amazon ● The Book Depository ● Kindle ● B&N
Goodreads ● Website

Read my review of Chantress HERE

Lucy is the last Chantress, the only remaining girl who can sing magic into the world. Since she defeated the evil Lord Scargrave, England has changed—and not for the better. With crops failing and the people rebelling, Lucy is called urgently back to King Henry’s court. His Inner Council is convinced that making gold through alchemy will save England. But a critical element to the alchemical process has been stolen. Lucy is tasked with finding it with her magic… or else. And until she succeeds, the castle is on lockdown.

Court too has changed. Scargrave's brutal Chantress-hunter has become King Henry's closest advisor. Lucy’s beloved Nat has fallen out of favor and is shunned by his colleagues; their romance means trouble for both of them. Worst of all, something goes wrong with Lucy’s magic. The palace is a labyrinth, and there’s a monster at its heart — a monster who may have the power to defeat Lucy once and for all. 

Amy Butler Greenfield returns to the beguiling world of Chantress for a suspenseful tale of courtly intrigue, music, and magic in Chantress Alchemy.

I may have had some problems (tiny ones) with the first book, Chantress, but holy moly, Chantress Alchemy was AH-MAY-ZING. So much happened and I’m still reeling it all in! It definitely keeps you on your toes with a classic who-dun-it with larger consequences.
When I heard that alchemy was going to be apart of the book (duh, the title should have been a big giveaway for me...), I got super excited! Nope, I’m not smart enough to actually know really anything about the subject. Heck, I don’t even take a proper science subject! But I do love the topic of Nicholas Flamel (the subject and main character of The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel and mention in the first book of Harry Potter) and so to integrate that into this story created a much richer backdrop, as well as built up the time period and context.

Speaking of– my main problems with the first book were to do with the fact that there was no character development and world-building. THIS BOOK HAS ANSWERED MY PRAYERS! I fell in love with the characters and was able to imagine the setting so clearly. I love how much history has been put into this book, and it just gives it so much more depth that (aside from the magic and paranormal) it breathes a century's worth of famous figures and stories.
Character-wise, I think that Lucy has had a huge improvement. I got kind of annoyed with her in the first book because she was so rash and thought about herself a lot, and made a lot of stupid decisions while she was at it. True, at the start, she is like Chantress-Lucy again. But there was so much character development! I feel so much more comfortable with Lucy as a protagonist now, because I’ve been able to see her mature in this instalment, and I can’t wait to see what she’ll do next in the final book of the trilogy.

I read in an interview that Greenfield liked this book a lot because of the developing romance between Lucy and Nat. That was something that I was absolutely looking forward to this book, and I was not disappointed. It seemed kind of stale and very G-rated in the last book, and there really was no connection between the two of them. I like how it progresses and continues to grow (leaving you with a somewhat heart-pounding ending), and again, I’m excited to see where their relationship will end up.

Holy hells, there’s only one thing I can say about the twist in this book: 

I. DID. NOT. SEE. THAT. COMING.

Chantress Alchemy was, well, an enCHANTing read. Exquisite details, vivid emotions, and characters so real you can feel them breathe out of the pages. Greenfield’s follow-up is brilliant, spellbinding and flawless, and her words leave you hanging and hungry for more. It will be sad to see the trilogy end, but I’m eagerly waiting to devour more.

If you like this, try...

• Maid of Secrets by Jennifer McGowan ● Goodreads
• The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas ● Goodreads

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AMY BUTLER GREENFIELD

Amy Butler Greenfield was a grad student in history when she gave into temptation and became a writer. Since then, she has become an award-winning author. 

Amy grew up in the Adirondack Mountains and later studied history at Williams College, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Oxford. She now lives with her family in England, where she writes, bakes double-dark-chocolate cake, and plots mischief.

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My Dream Cast for Chantress Alchemy

by Rabiah

I think it’s been forever since I’ve actually done a dream cast, and I LOVE that it’s going to be for Chantress Alchemy. The number of possibilities of leads and supporting actors... not to mention drooling over endless pictures of really cute actors *swoon*. Anyway, here’s who I would cast!

Georgie Henley as Lucy

I think it might be her association with Lucy from The Chronicles of Narnia, but this is who I was picturing when reading Chantress and Chantress Alchemy. Plus, she’s just a little bit older than the character, so luckily it’s not someone who’s like close to 30.

Emily Watson as Norrie

After seeing her play Rosa Hubermann in The Book Thief, I thought she was PERFECT to play Norrie: She’s stubborn and scolds, but she still really loves and cares for Lucy. She does have a strict-ish face, doesn’t she?

Callan McAuliffe as Nat

It was SUPER difficult to cast Nat. I actually spent the longest time trying to find someone to play him! Everyone was too young, too old, too-not-Nat, and of course (naturally) there needs to be a swoon-factor. I’ve seen McAuliffe in Flipped and I Am Number Four, and think he would make a really great Nat! :D

Toby Regbo as King Henry

King Henry is only slightly older than Lucy, so of course a young actor was needed. Being a fan of the TV show Reign, I immediately thought that Regbo would be perfect for the part. He looks so different with a beard, so either version of him (shaven or unshaven) would work. A little humour on the side: he does play the heir to France in Reign and his father is called King Henry in the show!

Sean Connery as Penebrygg

It seems though that this is a little bit of a *slower* role for Connery... I had a really tough time trying to find the perfect actor for Penebrygg and he was the closest to who I thought of when reading!

Ed Skrein as Wrexham

Wrexham in the book is described to be built as a Viking and has that blunt, cocky character. I totally thought of Ed Skrein as him when I first read of his character. I’ve seen Skrein on Game of Thrones (he was the original Daario in season 3) and he’s perfect for the role.

Saoirse Ronan as Sybil (1)

Initially I thought Saoirse could play Lucy, but Lucy’s hair was much darker, so when I stumbled upon Sybil’s character I thought OMG she could totally be her! She looks a lot older and more “regal”. But another actress I also had in mind for Sybil was...

Natalie Dormer as Sybil (2)

Even though she’s a lot older than the part, she DEFINITELY doesn’t look like it. I’ve seen her play Margaery on Game of Thrones, and she looks young and sweet... but of course, has her manipulative ways. I totally imagined her when there were conversations between Sybil and Lucy!

Sam Claflin as Lord Gabriel

I’m forgetting what colour hair Lord Gabriel has in the book, but brunette or blonde, Sam Claflin can definitely work both colours! Loved him in Pirates 4 and Catching Fire, and I think he could be a charming and slightly cocky Lord Gabriel.

Jeremy Irons as Sir Isaac

Again, like Penebygg a bit more weathered, more mature, and I thought that Irons could totally pull it off (obviously), but also for the fact that he can totally do dynamic!

Guys... now I really want this movie!!

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Giveaway time!

What’s up for grabs?? Well, you could win...

(1) Hardback of Chantress Alchemy (INT)

(1) Hardback of Chantress Alchemy (US ONLY)

Enter via the rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Check out the other stops on the tour! Click on the tour banner at the top of the post or on the button below to see what else is going on:

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Thank you so much to FFBC tours for having me along!