Review: The Warehouse

The Warehouse by Rob Hart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An extremely well thought out dystopian novel. Cloud has taken over America. It's the online store of your dreams, stocking everything, products sent to you by drone so they're with you almost before they're needed. Cloud now employs most of America, and its CEO controls the government as well. Although he thinks of it as 'advising'. He only wants the best for everyone, after all.

My favourite thing about this fantastic novel is the watch that buzzes on different side to direct the workers. It's such a tiny detail, but it fits and it really shows the work that Rob put into imagining this increasingly possible future. A fantastic read, one that everyone should try.


Dakota didn’t speak. Didn’t look interested in speaking. She walked, and Paxton followed. A few people threw glances their way. He understood this dance. Dobbs called the polo shirt an equalizer. It wasn’t. Didn’t matter if the badge was tin, it still shone if it caught the light at the right angle. 


A tram car pulled in and they climbed aboard. The crowd seemed to part for them. Still Dakota didn’t talk. This, Paxton understood too. For them to talk, to engage in conversation like normal people, would humanize them too much. 


Paxton hated how easy it was to slip back into that mind-set. Like walking the stacks all over again.

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New stock

These fantastic new Guardian Angels from Depesche come with the date already printed on them. Chose one for any occasion in your life; a birth, a birthday, graduation, a wedding. Whatever the occasion, a Guardian Angel is waiting to join you.

(I told you it wasn't what you were expecting.)

Review: A Pocketful of Stars

A Pocketful of Stars by Aisha Bushby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A heartbreaking story. Saiya's mother suffers a stroke just after they've had a fight. Drowning in guilt, Safiya finds that when she visits her mother, she sees fragments of her childhood. With each fragment, she unlocks more of her mother's history and her own personality.


I can't say much about this book, because it made it cry so much. But it's amazing, and beautiful, and I cheered, and everyone should definitely read it. Definitely. Just have tissues to hand.


As I walk through the map and see the ruined palace in the distance - ivy growing all over it, walls cracked - I can't help but remember the house from my dream with the silver branches. The park, too, looks similar. Except, instead of palm trees they're made of oak, and instead of a corner shop there's the Wicked Woodlands where the wizards live.

Almost an hour later and I'm just about to get most valuable player when Dad's voice floats up from the living room beneath me. 'Safiya!' he calls, his voice penetrating the bubble that my headphones have formed. 'Dinner!'

And, just like that, the spell is broken.

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Review: The Black Flamingo

The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Told in free verse, this heartfelt story follows Michael from birth to university as he discovers his identity and finds the people who will stand with him. Mixed in is the poetry he writes to try to understand himself and his reactions and those of the people around him. This is a lovely, quick read with beautiful illustrations. This is a story that will stay with you for a long time.

Be aware, there is a lot of discussion of sex and some drugs.



He puts his arm around me and says,
'Don't worry, you can't score every time
but you still gotta take the shot.
Respect for taking the risk, bro.
I've got a question for you: why did you
ask out the whitest boy in school?
Why not give a brother a chance?'

I laugh, through my tears. 'You're funny.'

'Yeah,' Kieran sighs, 'so are you.
I should go but if anyone gives you any trouble,
you let me know.'
He squeezes my shoulder,
walks to the door.

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Review: D.O.G.S

D.O.G.S by M.A. Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Greer is trying to settle back into school after the horrific visit to Longcross. The appearance of a long lost play catapults her back into a world of mystery, forcing her back to Longcross to lay old ghosts to rest.

So this is the second in what is now apparently a trilogy. As such, not a lot actually happens. There's a secret play that's tied into the Order, a lot of arguing, a visit to Longcross to find part of the play that is mostly not at all about the actual play. However, this is still an exciting, interesting read and I read it in one go, wanting to know what was going to happen next. I loved that we couldn't quite tell which side the characters were on; of the two reveals at the end, one confused me adn one really impressed me. I'm looking forward to reading the third part, but going on history that's a couple of years away at least!


Receiving an ARC did not affect my review in any way.



'So you're from the Isle of Dogs, right?'

'Yeah.'

'Why's it called that?'

'It was called Isle of Dogs cos it was s'posed to be where Elizabeth I's royal kennels were. So back then it was literally swarming with dogs.'

'Makes sense.'

'There's this pub called the Ferry House where my uncles used to drink,' she went on, 'and there was a crazy old guy who always used to sit at the bar and say that on frosty nights you could hear those Elizabethan dogs baying across the mudflats.'

I shivered. I was back at Longcross, hearing Henry's dogs barking through the dense fog after Nel's blood. If I was a real friend to Ty, could I really let her go to Longcross alone? Yes, I liked the twins, and no, they weren't Henry. But before I could make up my mind she hurried away, probably to catch up with Louis.

I could've stopped her. I could've called her back. But I said nothing, and my own silence made me feel a bit sick.

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Review: Sea Witch Rising

Sea Witch Rising by Sarah Henning
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The politics get a bit more confusing in this follow up, which sees Evie, our Sea Witch, re-enacting the Little Mermaid by sending Alia ashore without her voice to capture the heart of her prince - the grandson of the boy Evie loved once. Alia's sister refuses to take it lying down, though, and demands to negotiate her own deal.

The fifty year gap between this story and the first one means that some things are filled in on the run, as it were. This one is also rooted in a much more modern time than I had assumed reading the first one. It could, technically, still be as early as the 1850s, but the reference to Germany wanting to cut of Britain's supplies and starve her out seems, to me, to place us in the 1940s. Which makes Havnestad seem really backwards and strange. I guess it could be an alternate world.

Apart from that niggle, though, this is a fantastic read, with lush language and a well thought out magic system. Runa is now my favourite of the heroines, and I enjoyed the ending very much. This was a one day read for me.

A wonderful duology for anyone who enjoys fantasy.



Maybe there's a chance.

Maybe he really does love Alia.

Maybe their love is enough that he'll stop this wedding farce and bring Alia up there instead, marrying her with a kiss so fierce, the magic has no choice but to be satisfied.

Maybe the only sad part of the story is that I will remain human against my will. If Alia is happy and survives, that will be enough for me.

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Review: Sea Witch

Sea Witch by Sarah Henning
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A beautiful, magical retelling of the Little Mermaid...sort of. For spoilery reasons, I can't explain, but this book is not quite what you think it is. It is a wonderful, magical - I keep saying that, but it's true - story, though.

Switching time periods can make things tricky at first, but things become clear very quickly. The language is amazing and I'm very eager to move on to the next title in the series. Hoping for a happy ending!



"Happy birthday, Cousin." Eyes laughing, Iker claps Nik on the back and brings him in for a hug, his toned arms fully encasing Nik's spindly-yet-strong form.

When they release, Iker's eyes go right to me. They're the clearest of blues - like ancient ice in the fjords of the north.

"Evelyn," he says, still retaining an air of formality from his upbringing, but he then shockingly pulls me into a hug.

I freeze, eyes on Nik as he and everyone else on the ship stares. Iker doesn't seem to notice or care and pulls me tighter, his arms wrapped around my waist. Warm from ship work, he smells of salt and limes. His shirt is freckled with water droplets, onyx on the starched gray fabric - the sea leaving her mark.

When the moment is over and he lets me go, an arm lingers across my shoulders. I try to ignore the question nagging me, the one I'm sure everyone else is asking too. Why me? We've known each other since we were children, but he's never shown me this kind of affection before. I'm not his type. I'm not anyone's type. Yet Iker continues to act as if it's all completely normal. He turns to Nik, to the crowd, and grins that perfect smile.

"Good people of Havnestad," he says, his voice commanding yet sincere. Then the grin grows wider. "Let's give the prince a celebration so hearty, he'll never forget it."

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