Shadow Kiss * Richelle Mead

It's springtime at St. Vladimir's Academy and Rose is close to graduation, but since making her first Strigoi kills, things haven't felt quite right. She's having dark thoughts, behaving erratically, and worst of all . . . might be seeing ghosts.

Consumed by her forbidden love with her tutor Dimitri and protecting her best friend, the Moroi princess Lissa, Rose is in no state to see the deadly threat that will change her entire world - and make her choose between the two people she loves most.

Rose is back at St. Vlad's for her third year, but not without a dark cloud looming over her shoulder. But now with the loss of her best friend, Rose must now navigate her way through her guardian graduation, but is it that simple? 

Dimitri is there to help her along the way, but how much longer can they go trying ignoring the only thing they want?..Each other. 

Though there's bigger problems at stake when Rose starts seeing strange things and Adrian is the only person who knows what she's talking about, but can she trust him? As she grows closer to graduation, so do the deadly Strigoi to the school grounds and they won't go down without a fight. 

Join Rose as she battles her way through yet another year of school, and she starts to wonder if Lissa is actually the sane one in their relationship. 

Or is she the one that's been mad all along? 

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead, is the third instalment in the Vampire Academy series and what a book it was. The book flows on perfectly from the following Frostbite novel and I honestly think its my favourite within the series so far.

The story is more intense, more romantic. There's a bit of everything within Shadow Kiss, I cried, I laughed and I was so heartbroken by the end of it, what a roller coaster of emotions! I'm happy that I have found another series to sink my teeth into and can't wait to get started on the rest of the books. 

The storyline seems to get richer, more in depth as they go through the series and I'm loving that it does. Vampire Academy books have been out for a good few years now, but they're certainly ones that you don't want to miss out on. 

I will be giving this book 10 out of 10

The Art of Taxidermy * Sharon Kernot

Lottie collects dead creatures and lovingly cares for them, hoping to preserve them, to save them from disintegration. 

Her father understands—Lottie has a scientific mind, he thinks. Her aunt wants it to stop, and she goes to cruel lengths to make sure it does.

Little Lottie is at a loss without her Mother and Sister by her side. Stricken with grief, Lottie starts to find more creative ways to help ease her pain and memories, though not everyone in the family is keen on her new creative streak. 

This wonderful book is written in verse and is based around the 1980's. It's the first type of verse book that I have read, it did not disappoint. 

The story focuses around Lottie, who is silently struggling with the loss of her mother and older sister Annie, the book flits between the past and present whilst giving a glimpse at what her family were like when they were still alive. 

As Lottie begins to have a fascination with Taxidermy, family members try everything in their power to make the little girl she should be and not the girl Lottie wants to be.  The writing and story telling itself is in a way that I would say beautifully morbid, there's a love and sadness that grows within the book and the use of imagery is beautiful. 

I felt for Lottie as her family couldn't see what she was trying to do. It showed how each character portrayed different stages of grief and how they deal with their own sadness and loss which was a very interesting interpretation. 

The Art of Taxidermy by Sharon Kernot is a tremendous read and I can't wait for more of her work to follow. Without giving too much away, I thoroughly enjoyed this book more than I thought I would and I would highly recommend. Also, can I just point out that the cover works is absolutely gorgeous and  big thanks to NetGalley and Text Publishing for the ARC. However, if you are squeamish towards certain animal natures, then I would advise you to tread lightly. 

I will be giving this book a 9 out of 10

The book will be released in the UK by Text Publishing Company on the 23rd August 2019 and I would strongly suggest picking it up. 

Dashing Through the Snow * Debbie Macombre

Ashley Davison is desperate to spend the holidays with her mother in Seattle. Dash Sutherland has an interview for the job of a lifetime in Seattle and must arrive by 23 December. 

Both frantic to book a last-minute flight out of California, Ashley and Dash collide at the airport to learn that there are no flights and only one rental car available. 

Ashley desperately needs to get home for Christmas, but she wasn't expecting her flight to be cancelled last minute, nor did she did she think that she would be sharing the last remaining car in the rental park.

Dash has an important interview to get to, that he simply can't afford to miss. Though when in the company of Ashley, he starts to think that a couple of hours wouldn't hurt. 

With only 24 hours to go until Christmas, both Ashley and Dash decide to put their very big differences and opinions aside and decide that driving through the night is the answer. Though some things are best left unsaid and some secrets are better left to rest. Besides, there's only so far you can run away from your past. 

Dashing Through the Snow by Debbie Macombre, is the first book that have read by this author, it was part of my Christmas reads last year and was quite a quick read. 

I'll be honest, I didn't enjoy the book. My main reasons would be that there didn't seem much depth to the characters, the storyline seemed flat and the overall ending was a bit cliche. 

For the characters, their relationship seemed forced and it came across as more of a father/daughter relationship rather than a romance. Ashley was quite obnoxious, and Dash just seemed like a 'yes' man. The story itself seemed hopeful at the start, but as I read more it became a bit unrealistic and dead. 

However, I will give Macomber's books another go as she is such a big author and maybe the book was just a dud for me, I may try a summer romance this time. 

With that said, I will be giving this book 3 out of 10

Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief * Rick Riordan

Half Boy. Half God. All Hero

Look, I didn't want to be a half-blood, I never asked to be the son of a Greek God either. 

I was just a normal kid, going to school, playing basketball, skateboarding. The usual. Until I accidentally vaporised my maths teacher. Now I spend my time battling monsters and generally trying to stay alive. 

Percy never asked to be a half-blood, he just wanted to be your run of the mill high schooler. Hanging out with friends and listening to music. Though instead, he gets transported to Half-Blood Academy for nearly slashing his teacher in half with a sword...that was actually a pen. 

With the help from Annabeth - daughter of Athena and Grover, a strange boy with fake feet and a hunger for tin cans; Percy and the gang are lead on a quest to battle a snake headed woman, three headed dogs and the almighty gods. 

Though all quests come with a price and to find something you hold so dear to your heat, you have to do the unimaginable and to do so from New York to L.A. in the space of seven days can be a bit tricky.  

So long as you have flying shoes, tin cans and pudding what could go wrong? 

Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan, is the first novel in the Percy Jackson series and I will admit to watching the film first, years before reading the book (oh the shame!) However, I have wanted to give the books a go for some time and only did so when I was able to buy the set with some leaving money from my old job (Huzzah!) 

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book, it was very imaginative, creative and an all round pleasure to read. There were quite a few funny parts and was highly packed with adventure. I loved Percy's character and I can say that I have learnt quite a bit more about Greek Mythology, which is something that I love and find interesting. 

Although a children's book, I think all ages can enjoy Riordan's books, I can't wait to get started on the rest of the series.  

I will be giving this book 9 out of 10