Passage, n. i. A brief section of music composed of a series of notes and flourishes. ii. A journey by water; a voyage. iii. The transition from one place to another, across space and time. In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. And she’s inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she’s never heard of. Until now. Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods—a powerful family in the colonies—and the servitude he’s known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can’t escape and the family that won’t let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas’ passenger, can find. In order to protect her, he must ensure she brings it back to them—whether she wants to or not. Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods’ grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are playing, treacherous forces threaten to separate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home... forever. Summary from Goodreads. ✱ Pages: 486 (hardcover) ✱ Publication date: 5 January 2016 ✱ Series: Passenger #1 ✱ Provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review ✱ Amazon UK | Amazon US

The most beautiful cover, ever. Also, I knew there would be time travel. Decision made!

Things I really enjoyed

The time travel aspect of Passenger intrigued me, and worked well enough to keep me from wondering about the specifics of it - scientific or otherwise. The plot managed to surprise me a good few times too, although it seemed a little bit on the slow side at first.

The other main character, Nicholas, has a good back story, and he is African-American, which admittedly seems to be a little rare for love interests in books so I was happy to see that. There were some other characters I really enjoyed reading about too.

Etta and Nicholas end up travelling through some pretty interesting cities and times, and the mission they set on during Passenger gets pretty intense.

Things that made me pause

Nicholas and Etta started to sound the same to me. Since they both narrated the story, I would have preferred their voices to have been more different, and distinctive.

I did find myself wondering about the romance too. I guess I just wasn't buying it? The friendship between the characters I could definitely get behind, but maybe the feelings just moved a bit fast for me? I'm hoping the second book will help out with that.

Despite some issues I had, I thoroughly enjoyed Passenger. It might have something to do with the mood I was in but I read this in one go - and stayed up until 4am to finish it. I'm really excited to see what happens in the next book!

Have you read Passenger yet? What do you think of time travel - do you read a lot of books about it?

I'm catching up on comments today - sorry about the delay lovelies!
My cat got sick and since I'm not home, my mum took him to the vet and they had to put him down.

So I'm really sad today, and I figured I'd share with you some of my favourite books to read when I'm in need of some comfort.

84, Charing Cross Road An epistolary novel featuring the correspondence between the author Helen Hanff, and a bookshop in London. The letters are delightful and witty and wonderful. Pride and Prejudice Lizzie Bennett and Mister Darcy. What's there not to love? I've read it so many times that I just remember every scene and it just makes me really happy. (My BFF hates this one though...) The Wee Free Men The Wee Free Men was my first ever Terry Pratchett book! Tiffany Aching is a young witch who allies herself with the Wee Free Men - "a clan of sheep-stealing, sword-wielding, six-inch-high blue men who are as fierce as they are funny." Howl's Moving Castle I've gushed about this one before - a girl gets cursed by a witch, and meets a wizard who is said to eat girls' hearts. There's a fire demon, a lot of magic, and wonderful storytelling. Anne of Green Gables Another childhood favourite in which orphaned Anne Shirley finds a new home. I love these because during the series you see Anne grow up from a young girl to an adult with her own family.

What do you read when you're sad? Do you eat your own weight in ice cream?

Emily Jacobs is the descendant of a serial killer. Now, she’s become the hunted.  She’s on a quest that will take her to the secret underground of Europe and the inner circles of three ancient orders—one determined to kill her, one devoted to keeping her alive, and one she must ultimately save.  Filled with adrenaline, romance, and reversals, The Progeny is the present-day saga of a 400-year-old war between the uncanny descendants of “Blood Countess” Elizabeth Bathory, the most prolific female serial killer of all time, and a secret society dedicated to erasing every one of her descendants. A story about the search for self filled with centuries-old intrigues against the backdrop of atrocity and hope. ✱ Pages:  336 (e-copy) ✱ Series: Descendants of the Blood Countess #1 ✱ Publication date: 24 May 2016 ✱ Provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review ✱ Amazon UK | Amazon US

So the premise: this girl gets taken to a little house, she has all she needs, but no memory.

My first thought was - what would be so bad you have to erase your memory, all of it? I knew I had to read this, because that question would not leave me alone.

Intense and Addictive

An enjoyable thriller filled with twists and turns, the Progeny focuses on Emily who wakes up after a surgery, having no memory of her life before that day. However, the life Emily has forgotten may be the key to unlocking secrets many would be willing to pay for in blood. The reader is really invested in the story right from the beginning, because you are in the same boat with Emily - you have no idea what is happening or why.

Elizabeth Bathory and Secret Societies

The plot is based on the idea that Elizabeth Bathory - whose history and legend are touched upon in the story - passed on something to her descendants. A vaguely magical quality that gives the descendants certain unique abilities. The bloodline is still going strong but there are some secret societies involved who seem to disagree on how to treat the Progeny.

Who Do You Trust When You Can't Remember Your Own Name?

Ultimately, the Progeny is an exciting story about one woman's attempt to protect those she loves, and to recover some of what she has lost - her memory and her identity. The tension is high, as are the stakes, and the reader never quite knows who to trust. A good read especially for those who love conspiracy theories, stories touching upon historical detail, or a little bit of the supernatural.

Intense and fast-paced thriller with some history and romance thrown in.

Just to warn you - this one is planned as a duology, and there's a bit of a cliffie!

Can you imagine a situation where you'd want to lose all your memories?! Who would you trust? Are there any thrillers you'd recommend?

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme for sharing our news, and plans for the next week, hosted by the wonderful Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

Hello my little internet narwhals! [don't ask.]
I started writing this and asked my BFF what I'd done this week, and she replied with "literally nothing." I couldn't argue with that. So that's my week, tell me about yours! ;)

Did you see Molly's post about Camp NaNoWriMo? It's so motivating and packed full of good advice.

Gillian wrote a post titled 'If YA Books were Musicals.' You need this in your life. These are pretty perfect.

Cait offers several wonderful reasons for Why You Should Start a Book Blog. These should make you laugh and nod along.

✦ Bookish Confessions: I don't like Game of Thrones
but would love to know if you do!

✦ My Liebster Nomination
with the usual amount of weird, random factoids about me thrown in. Sorry.
✦ Conversations: Fifty Shades of Grey
No, I haven't actually read it. Don't unfriend me!

✦ The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury
Wonderful Aladdin retelling with some kick-ass female characters thrown in.

✦ Radio Silence by Alice Oseman
Contemporary YA done so right that my review basically consists solely of fangirling.

 

Look at that. Urban fantasy and Shakespeare hanging out.

 

Yes, I'm still on a book buying ban. I don't know how this happened, but I'm 99% sure it's not my fault.

✦ Review of the Progeny by Tosca Lee

✦ A post about the end of Camp NaNoWriMo
✦ Another Bookish Confessions post

How was your week? You've survived my weirdness once again, so well done, you! Did anything good happen to you this week? Do you object to being labelled a narwhal? (they are the unicorns of the sea. Except, real.)

Conversations is a brilliant, new fortnightly meme by Geraldine @ Corralling Books and Joan @ Fiddler Blue. Check the details and get involved! The theme for April is Popular Issues, and the topic for this week is: ✱ Is 15 years old too young to be reading Fifty Shades of Grey?

Hello my lovelies!

Today we're talking about Fifty Shades. Spoiler alert - I hate it.

Fifty Shades of Grey

Okay. So... As far as I'm concerned, no one should read it. Ever. I feel like I shouldn't be saying this because I haven't read it, but just talking about this book is making me uncomfortable! Why does it even exist?!

Let me tell you a story, though.

I had a flatmate two years ago who proudly announced that she hadn't read a thing since high school, but she'd found something amazing and had actually finished reading a book. Surprise, surprise - it was Fifty Shades of Grey.

I was in shock.

She knew I liked books so she asked if I'd read it and I kind of rudely answered, "NO. I will never, ever, read it. No." (I stand by my words, to this day.) I'm paraphrasing. I think I made a speech about the dangers of Fifty Shades.

So after all that, she asked me what kind of books I read.

I said, "Literature."

This was the end of what could have been a beautiful friendship, I'm sure. I feel a bit bad, because I try not to be a book snob [ - if you enjoy reading something, you should read it]! But when it comes to this particular book, dammit - I am a proud book snob, okay?

Kids' Reading Choices and Sex in Books

I've always felt that as much as we'd like to shelter our kids from sex and violence, it's important to let them read whatever they want - I know I read everything from children's books to adult literature when I was young - Stephen King gave me nightmares, Nora Roberts probably made me understand what sex actually was ( - or maybe that was Audrey Niffenegger's the Time Traveler's Wife?). I also think that if we tell a fifteen year-old not to read Fifty Shades, they will definitely go and read it.

Yes, I'm a bit worried that (especially younger) teenagers may not always be able to distinguish romance from sex - or might think that there's something realistic about Fifty Shades or the BDSM in it or the fictional sex lives of the characters. It makes me really worried for kids and their expectations regarding sex and what's normal and what's not. But at least when it comes to the book, our friendly/rebellious 'little' 15-year-old can stop if they realise it's making them uncomfortable. This is why I'd rather not control what kids read. I didn't do it for my younger sisters - I wouldn't do it for my own children if I had them. Kids are generally smart enough to stop reading if they don't like it. I'd like to trust them to make their own choices about it, especially at fifteen.

So ultimately, even though I'd prefer fifteen year-olds not to read Fifty Shades, I was reading Nora Roberts when I was nine. I can't judge. If a fifteen year-old feels like they are mature enough to read Fifty Shades, then they're allowed to go for it - as long as they know that in this case it's an option to stop reading the book and tear it into pieces whenever they'd like.

Okay guys. Fifty Shades: yes or no? What do you think - should a 15 year-old be able to read Fifty Shades of Grey?

She is the most powerful Jinni of all. He is a boy from the streets. Their love will shake the world...  When Aladdin discovers Zahra's jinni lamp, Zahra is thrust back into a world she hasn't seen in hundreds of years—a world where magic is forbidden and Zahra's very existence is illegal. She must disguise herself to stay alive, using ancient shape-shifting magic, until her new master has selected his three wishes.  But when the King of the Jinn offers Zahra a chance to be free of her lamp forever, she seizes the opportunity—only to discover she is falling in love with Aladdin. When saving herself means betraying him, Zahra must decide once and for all: is winning her freedom worth losing her heart? As time unravels and her enemies close in, Zahra finds herself suspended between danger and desire in this dazzling retelling of Aladdin from acclaimed author Jessica Khoury.  ✱ Pages: 352 (hardcover) ✱ Publication date: 23 February 2016 ✱ Amazon UK | Amazon US

For some reason, it took me about a hundred pages to really get into this story, but once I got there, I was hooked! (You know, the kind of 'NO, I'm not going to talk to people, or move, or eat until I've finished this book' kind of thing?)

Zahra, Aladdin, and the Other Characters

These two characters are just too cute. I like both of them so much - they have their faults, their regrets, and they make mistakes. But they want what's best for the other, and what's best for their land. They are loveable and sympathetic, and they make you care about their story.

All the characters from the antagonists to princess Caspida and her Watchmaidens, and to the long-dead Roshana, are interesting. They have their own stories, their own motivations, whether that is to protect the kingdom, or just to look after one specific person.

Wishes and the Jinn

Although powerful, the magic Zahra wields comes with a price - I think it's an important part of these stories, so I'm glad that it's included. This of course leads to the topic of the Forbidden Wish and what that entails. There's an element of mystery throughout the story to this Wish, to Zahra's past, to the old friend, 'Habiba,' she talks to. All the questions the reader tries to figure out make the story very compelling.

The Writing

There is something about this book that makes me want to read it out loud, especially Zahra's parts of the dialogue, I think. The way Jessica Khoury tells her story is lovely, and the words - they hold a hint of longing, of magic, of romance. There's a real beauty to them.

“The things that were once sweet to me are now bitter. The sun is not half so bright. The stars seem dimmer. All this wealth and luxury feels meaningless. All the world is in your shadow, Zahra. I cannot help but see you when I close my eyes.” 

“The will of this boy thief flows in golden streams. It is the thread with which I weave, the colors with which I paint, the element with which I create.” 

A lovely story with a wonderful cast of characters. Overall, a pretty enthralling read! If you have a sweet tooth, or you're craving something that's a bit like a fairytale - give this one a go.

Have you read any stories that are based on Aladdin? Do you have a favourite retelling?