JESS JUST READS

A BOOK REVIEW BLOG

Heart Bones by Colleen Hoover

Beyah Grim has only ever known a life of poverty and neglect. After surviving by any means necessary, she finally has a hard-earned ticket out of Kentucky with a full ride to Penn State. Two short months before she’s finally free, an unexpected death leaves her homeless and forced to spend the remainder of her summer on a peninsula in Texas with a father she barely knows.

Begging the summer to go by quickly and hoping to remain as invisible as possible, Beyah wants nothing to do with Samson, the wealthy, brooding guy who lives next door to her father and who couldn’t possibly understand where Beyah’s coming from or what she’s been through. But with an almost immediate connection too intense for them to deny, and futures leading them to opposite ends of the country, Beyah and Samson decide to stay in the shallow end of a summer fling, neither of them realizing that a rip current is about to drag both their hearts out to sea.

Colleen Hoover’s Heart Bones is an emotional story of two teenagers on the cusp of adulthood, both let down in life and trying to make sense of their future. Well-paced, coming of age YA fiction with a summer romance at its centre.

We meet Beyah Grim after her mother dies of an overdose, and the only person she has left in her life is her estranged father – someone she’s barely spent any time with and has never really expressed much of an interest in her life. Realising that she needs help from others, she spends the summer in Texas with him before heading to college, and there, she meets Samson. Secretive and mysterious, Samson seems to understand Beyah more than anyone else. Life seems to have dealt him a difficult hand and over the Summer, these two teenagers find comfort in each other’s presence.

“I think there’s a chance I might be wrong about him. I might have judged him a little too soon. But then again, what’s the matter if I am wrong? Things between us are awkward and I don’t see that changing unless one of us has a personality transplant.”

Overarchingly, Heart Bones explores poverty and neglect, and how this can impact a person’s actions. How do we perceive a person’s actions when they’re desperate, alone and without the appropriate means to survive?

I read Heart Bones in one sitting, impressed with the premise and characterisation. The pacing, too, is something to be commended. I was surprised to realise that this book is being marketed as general fiction because for me, it definitely feels like a YA novel. Centred around two teenagers and dealing with themes of love, identity and family, both of the main characters bond of their shared experiences in pain and heartbreak. They have to learn to let others in, knowing they don’t need to just rely on themselves.

“Samson looks over at our table. There’s a discomfort to him now. He puts his hand on the guy’s back and walks him away from the table so we can’t hear what they’re saying. I look at Sara and Marcos to see what their reactions are.”

Heart Bones follows a similar plotline to a fair few YA romances – that ‘final’ summer before college, where your path appears unclear and you’re not sure what kind of person you might become.

This is definitely more of a character-driven story than plot-driven. Among many other things, Heart Bones explores the merge of a new family and new friendships. When Beyah moves in with her father, she meets his new wife and his stepdaughter Sara. Over the course of the novel, it’s not just about Beyah bonding with her father, but the rest of the family too. She learns to let them in, trust others, and trust that she can actually have a family outside of what she was used to during her childhood.

“He doesn’t respond to that. He just watches me. He does that a lot and I like it. I don’t even care what he’s thinking when he stars. I just like that he finds me intriguing enough to stare at, even if his thoughts aren’t entirely positive. It means he sees me. I’m not used to being seen.”

Poignant and emotionally driven, Colleen Hoover’s Heart Bones is suitable for readers of YA. Romance readers will enjoy this. Readership skews female, 14+

Thank you to the publishing company for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Heart Bones
Colleen Hoover
February 2023
Simon & Schuster Australia

The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

Secrets. Betrayal. Seduction. Welcome to the Alexandrian Society.

When the world’s best magicians are offered an extraordinary opportunity, saying yes is easy. Each could join the secretive Alexandrian Society, whose custodians guard lost knowledge from ancient civilizations. Their members enjoy a lifetime of power and prestige. Yet each decade, only six practitioners are invited – to fill five places.

Contenders Libby Rhodes and Nico de Varona are inseparable enemies, cosmologists who can control matter with their minds. Parisa Kamali is a telepath, who sees the mind’s deepest secrets. Reina Mori is a naturalist who can perceive and understand the flow of life itself. And Callum Nova is an empath, who can manipulate the desires of others. Finally there’s Tristan Caine, whose powers mystify even himself.

Following recruitment by the mysterious Atlas Blakely, they travel to the Society’s London headquarters. Here, each must study and innovate within esoteric subject areas. And if they can prove themselves, over the course of a year, they’ll survive. Most of them.

Olivie Blake’s fantasy novel The Atlas Six is the first in a planned series, centring around the elusive but esteemed Alexandrian Society, inheritors of lost knowledge. When six of the most promising young magicians are recruited to join their ranks, they’re told only five will be accepted into the society. And it’s not guaranteed that all of them will make it out alive…

The setting is deliberately claustrophobic — we are confined inside the walls of the society for most of the novel, and so we experience as the characters’ world grows smaller and smaller. For twelve months, they can only confide in each other, largely inside the same walls that surround them. Characters who normally wouldn’t have anything to do with each other suddenly seem to form unacknowledged alliances as they work together in this strange new environment.

“That sneaky little monstress. This was Nico’s punishment, then. Forced communication with people who mattered to him — which she knew he loathed — all for implying that her boyfriend was precisely what he was.”

The characters’ magic did feel creative and interesting, and certainly like their abilities were outside the realm of usual fantasy tropes. Early chapters of the book very much function as an introduction to each of the six characters, as we move through their perspectives and come to understand who they are and what their magic encompasses.

Action scenes appear intermittently throughout the book, breaking up the slower chapters where it’s mainly conversation and world-building. Admittedly, the world-building did feel quite complex, certainly at the end of the book as the climax unfolded. But with morally ambiguous and multi-layered characters, tension in this dark academia novel run high and stakes are maintained throughout the novel.

“So this, too, came with strings. That was obvious. Reina had never liked this sort of persuasion, but there was a logical piece of her that understood people would never stop asking. She was a well of power, a vault with heavy doors, and people would either find ways to break in or she would have to simply open them on occasion. Only for a worthy purchaser.”

For a lot of the book, the chapters consist of dialogue between the young magicians — bickering, fighting, or flirting. There’s a lot of scene-setting and exposition, and characters hooking up with each other. It all felt a little inconsequential for a while there. Even if you like the characters, after a while, you’re desperate for something more to happen! I definitely think this novel could’ve benefited from more plot.

The ending did feel satisfying, as Olivie tied together the mystery and revealed what was really at stake here — what the society is attempting to achieve and what the true purpose of these six magicians has been. In saying that, I do look forward to subsequent novels when the true nature of this society is more deeply explained — quite a few moments in the book went over my head, and explanations around magic and physics and certain characters’ true intentions were a little lost on me.

Moments of humour pepper the novel, keeping conversation light and enjoyable whilst maintaining tension and stakes and this impending build-up of dread. You know something is about to happen, you know the bubble is about to burst, you’re just not quite sure what or how.

“Lust was a colour, but fear was a sensation. Clammy hands or a cold sweat were obvious markers, but more often it was some sort of multisensory incongruity. Like seeing sun and smelling smoke, or feeling silk and tasting bile. Sounds that rose out of unseeing darkness. This was like that, only stranger.”

Recommended for YA fantasy readers. Punchy and imaginative, the readership for The Atlas Six skews female, 16+

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Atlas Six
Olivie Blake
March 2022
Pan Macmillan Publishers

League of Liars by Astrid Scholte

Ever since his mother was killed in a freak edem-based crime, seventeen-year-old Cayder Broduck has had one goal: to have illegal users of extradimensional magic brought to justice. Cayder dreams of becoming a prosecutor and, when he secretly accepts an apprenticeship under the city’s best public defender, he plans to learn every legal trick he can to one day dismantle defence arguments. Then he’ll finally be able to make sure justice is served.

But when he meets all three criminals he is to defend, he finds they are teenagers, like him, and their stories are … complicated, like his. As their cases unfold, Cayder must race to separate the truth from the lies and uncover what really happened the night his mother died

From the bestselling author of Four Dead Queens comes a heart-pounding mystery rife with secrets and danger, where nothing is as it seems…

Astrid Scholte’s third novel League of Liars is fantasy YA fiction, a thriller that races against the clock as we work to save four teenagers imprisoned for murder and the illegal use of magic.

The author’s strengths lie in crafting clever, addictive plots. She navigates multiple characters with unique backstories and voices, so the reader doesn’t get confused between chapters. I find her world-building to be intriguing and expansive, and the stakes consistently high. Characters struggle with secrets and loyalties, but over the course of the novel they come together to overcome the oppressing force.

“I didn’t want to cross the threshold; I hated the feeling of being lost within my own home. Homes were supposed to be full of love and laughter, not empty hallways and closed doors. My mother’s presence lingered within the walls…”

League of Liars is the first novel is a prospected trilogy, and this first foray into the series leaves enough left unsaid that readers will crave more. A lot of this book takes place in the one setting — prison — so I’m looking forward to travelling beyond this in the second book and discovering more about this world Astrid has crafted. I also look forward to finding out more about the magic system, because it wasn’t overly described in this book and I’m certain there’s more to come.

It’s always interesting to centre a YA fantasy around a group of morally ambiguous criminals, and when you embed a prison break into that story it’s clear you’ve got a story that young readers will love. Pacing is consistent and fast, with stakes only growing higher during each chapter.

League of Liars will please reluctant teenage readers, but also seasoned YA fantasy readers looking for the next tale to devour.

“A spark of fury burned within me. She knew the risks of going to Ferrington. She knew she was breaking the law. Now we would both pay the consequences. I felt like something had struck me in the back and lodged within my ribs.”

At times, I found the writing in need of tightening. There was a lot of telling rather than showing — emotions are described a lot, rather than letting actions and dialogue convey the character’s emotion.

I also felt that Cayder’s dialogue was a little over-dramatic and over-the-top during heightened moments, particularly revelations or moments or surprise or betrayal. Conversations where he’s trying to extract information out of someone else descended into desperate shouting and it made him feel one-dimensional. Stronger characterisation is awarded to Jey and Leta.

“Out on the horizon, a black streak cleaved the sky in two. Like a static bolt of lightning, but where light should be, darkness reigned. Known as the veil, it was the source of edem and many kids’ nightmares. A fissure between our world and another, allowing time-altering magic to seep through.”

Recommended for fans of young adult fantasy fiction; League of Liars reminds me of Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows, which should give an indication of audience. Readership skews female, 12+

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

League of Liars
Astrid Scholte
March 2022
Allen & Unwin Book Publishers

Only A Monster by Vanessa Len

Only a monster would kill a hero. Right?

Every family has its secrets, but the summer Joan Chang-Hunt goes to stay with her Gran in London, she learns hers is bigger than most. The Hunts are one of twelve families in London with terrifying, hidden powers.

Joan is half-monster. And what’s more, her summer crush Nick isn’t just a cute boy – he’s hiding a secret as well; a secret that places Joan in terrible danger.

When the monsters of London are attacked, Joan is forced on the run with the ruthless Aaron Oliver, heir to a monster family who are sworn enemies of her own. Joan is drawn deeper into a world that simmers with hostilities, alliances and secrets. And her rare and dangerous power means she’s being hunted. She’ll have to embrace her own monstrousness if she is to save herself, and her family. Because in this story . . .

. . . she is not the hero.

Vanessa Len’s debut urban fantasy Only a Monster is an exciting release for fantasy readers, particularly fans of young adult fiction. Set in the real world, we meet a cast of characters labelled ‘monsters’. They’re able to travel through time by stealing time from other humans. Amongst the monster population, there’s a myth of a human hero who is destined to destroy their entire existence.

Despite a slow start, Only A Monster is fantastic. The premise of the novel fits comfortably in the urban fantasy genre but features enough originality to surprise even the most avid of genre fans. I genuinely felt unsure of where the story was going, surprised by the twists, engrossed by the characters, absorbed into the world building, and I finished the book feeling like Vanessa was bringing something unique to the readership.

“Joan lay there for a moment, trying to breathe through the pain. On the ground beside her, the dead woman lay, eyes wide open, looking up at nothing. Joan felt a sob rise in her throat like bile. She squeezed her eyes shut for a second and then forced herself to her feet.”

Set in London, Only A Monster incorporates the known trope of the anti-hero. Sixteen-year-old Joan Chang-Hunt discovers that she’s inherited her family’s ability to steal time from another’s life span and after finding herself alone, hunted and incredibly naive about this new ability she has, she teams up with an unlikely enemy. He is able to aid her escape, and then her plight as she attempts to right the wrongs inflicted at the beginning of the novel. Only A Monster explores the blurred boundary between good and evil and what it means to be a hero.

What transpires is a race through time, largely set in the 1990s, as Joan tries to flee those who hunt her. What starts as an urban fantasy soon turns into a fast-paced thriller with heightened stakes and well-crafted, multi-layered characters. There is an even balance of character driven and plot driven stylistic devices.

“Joan tried to remember, and panic bubbled up inside her again. The whole day was missing from her memory. There was just nothing there.”

Vanessa sets up the ending of the novel for a sequel, with enough questions left unanswered to keep you gripped. The mechanics of the time travel do remain a bit unanswered, and I think some readers will find the logistics a little blurry. But accepting the storyline and the characters and allowing yourself to fall into the story and let yourself be swept up into it will result in an engaging and enjoyable reading experience. When done well, time travel novels are a guilty pleasure of mine.

“She imagined Nick waiting for her at that cafe. She hadn’t responded to any of his messages. But she knew him. He’d have waited and waited, just in case. How long had he been there before he’d realised that she wasn’t coming?”

An exciting new story from an Australian writer. Engrossing and original, Vanessa Len’s Only a Monster can be devoured in quick succession. Recommended for YA readers and urban fantasy fans. Readership skews 13+

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Only A Monster
Vanessa Len
February 2022
Allen & Unwin Book Publishers

Dark Rise by C.S. Pacat

The ancient world of magic is no more. Its heroes are dead, its halls are ruins, and its great battles between Light and Dark are forgotten. Only the Stewards remember. For centuries they have kept vigil, sworn to protect humanity if the Dark King ever returns.

Sixteen-year-old dock boy Will is on the run in London, pursued by the men who killed his mother. When an old servant urges him to seek out the Stewards, Will is ushered into a secret world, where he must train to fight for the Light in the oncoming war.

As the Dark King’s return looms, reborn warriors begin to draw battle lines. But when the young descendants of Light and Dark step into their destined roles, old allegiances, old enmities and old flames are awakened. Will must stand with the last heroes of the Light to prevent the calamity that destroyed their world from returning to destroy his own.

The first book in a new YA fantasy trilogy, C.S. Pacat’s Dark Rise comes highly anticipated. Set in 1821 London, teenager Will is on the run from his mother’s murderer – successful trader Lord Simon Crenshaw. Soon, he’s entangled in a world he knew nothing about, under the protection of an ancient order. Dark Rise is quite the clever story because you find yourself questioning who the real villain is the entire way through.

Dark Rise feels like it honours classical fantasy whilst also incorporating a lot of unique elements and surprising plot events that mean you don’t feel like the story is predictable. C.S Pacat twists familiar tropes to make them much more inviting for the readers. There were certain deaths I never saw coming, and some character revelations were teased throughout the book and I missed them – I think all readers will love this book, not just readers of YA.

“Justice had talked about Tom like—
Like he was a monster. Like he’d hunt a woman down and kill her. Like he served a dark power, and did it willingly. A horror rose up in her.”

Written in third person, C.S. Pacat’s writing is stripped but impactful. She offers enough insight into the minds of her characters but largely keeps the majority of the story to dialogue and action where it shines.

Credit must be given to the way she only pivots her story around her core characters, without falling into the trap of including/mentioning secondary characters too often in scenes – this can be confusing for the reader when there is a large cast of characters present, and I often find myself going back through the pages and needing to re-read.

C.S Pacat has set herself up for an explosive second book. Themes include family, destiny, friendship and courage.

“The gathered men were uneasy, shifting in the repressed silence. The three too-pale men swung silently down off their horses, their single black pieces of armour faintly repelling. Those left on the banks were shooting nervous glances from them to James and back again. Will felt it too, a strange pressure growing in his chest.”

Admittedly, elements of the novel’s structure were a little disjointed for me. We switch POV between the main characters, but sometimes it didn’t always feel necessary. Katherine, Simon’s fiancé, gets only a few chapters in her POV and it didn’t feel like a seamless jump.

Towards the end, when she comes back into the storyline, there have been so many significant things that have happened that we weren’t privy to, it felt like the reader was left on the out. Being more involved in Katherine’s turning point as a character likely would’ve made her contribution seem more worthwhile, and it certainly would’ve helped me connect to her as a character.

Finally, the presence of Elizabeth in the story could’ve been more dominant. She doesn’t appear until right at the end where she actually matters, and because we don’t really know who she is, I felt nothing for her.

“Cyprian was too perfect, riding straight-backed in garments that seemed to repel the mud of the marsh. He was one of two Stewards who were younger than the others – Will’s age – and he and the girl were dressed differently too.”

Recommended for fantasy readers, and suitable for younger audiences. Readership skews 13+

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Dark Rise: Dark Rise #1
C.S. Pacat
October 2021
Allen & Unwin Book Publishers