Atlanta Bushnell

YA Author | The Fire Song Chronicles |

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✨Review Time!✨

Alice and Iris are back in the second Agathas mystery: The Night in Question by Kathleen Glasgow & Liz Lawson. It is an exciting read!

1949: classic film starlet Mona Moody fell to her death from a balcony at Castle Cove’s famous Levy Castle. Accident? Alice and Iris think not.

Present day: at the annual dance at Levy Castle Alice’s ex-best friend Rebecca Kennedy is attacked and all evidence points to her best friend Park. But our two detectives aren’t so sure so they take the case to find out what’s really going on.

How are these two cases connected? The Castle Cove police don’t think they are but Alice and Iris are almost certain they are. Solve one and they might just solve the other.

This book has all the fun of the first book. I thought it moved a lot faster and I loved that! I also love Alice and Iris, and it’s really nice to see their friendship growing. It was also good to get to know some of the side characters better. Spike is still my favourite! He’s such a cutie!

The mystery is exciting and I loved the pacing of the clues. It all fitted together well but there are a few loose ends and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!

4.5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Thank you Harper Collins Australia for sending me the review copy.

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✨Review Time!✨

“You’re greater than any man laying claim to the name of a hero. The world should know the name Atalanta. They should see what you can do.”

I knew this was a book about one of the greatest heroines of Greek mythology but Atalanta by Jennifer Saint is something else.

It follows the ancient tale of Atalanta who was left on a mountainside as a baby to die but survives to become a legendary warrior and the only female crew member to sail with Jason and the Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece.

The author does a wonderful job of bringing the character Atalanta to life. She is brave, powerful and determined. Even though she is forced to prove herself time and time again because people keep telling her she can’t possibly accomplish what she sets out to do because she is a woman, she never gives up. She never lets the opinion of other people stop her, instead she uses it to defy expectations.

The writing is lyrical and beautiful, and I read every word. The story itself is at times exciting, intriguing and heartbreaking.

I love retellings, especially ones of lesser known stories. I recommend this to fans of Greek mythology.

Fun fact: my name, Atlanta, is derived from the name Atalanta, so she has always held a special place in my heart. Thank you Jennifer Saint for writing this novel.

Thank you Hachette Australia for gifting me this copy to review.

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Hello lovely readers!

It’s time for a writing update! It’s a been a little while and I’m so sorry for that. Thank you so much for your patience and for sticking around! You amazing readers are what keeps me going and I have some exciting news!

I am now on WATTPAD! So what that means is over the next few months all my stories, including The Fire Song Chronicles, will be slowly going up on WATTPAD. The best part? They are FREE!

For now they are available for Free. I just want to reach readers and share my love of stories. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them 😊

I have started with a new original story called Pirate Nation. The first 10 chapters are up now and I would love to know what you think!

I will have more news soon!

Happy Reading!

Atlanta

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✨Book Feature & Review!✨

Stranger Tides follows Miles on his second adventure protecting Brooklyn and this time the whole world. A new video game is freezing anyone who plays it and Miles is the only one who can stop it. Miles is determined to save them and take down the villain behind it all.

It’s a quick read perfect for those Middle Grade Spider-Man fans in your life! The illustrations are amazing and had me flying through the pages! Miles is a loveable main character and I can’t wait to see where the next adventure takes him!

Thank you Scholastic Australia for the gifted review copy.

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✨Book Feature & Review✨

The Snow Laundry by Mette Jakobson is a fast paced YA dystopian. It follows the story of Ally and Bon, two young orphans in a world of broken promises.

Ally and Bon live and work in The Towers, which is run by the now ruling Administration. They are both just trying to survive and hope that things will get better.

Then one day Bon goes missing and it changes everything. In her desperate search to find him, Ally uncovers some dark secrets about the Administration and their plans for the Towers and everyone in it.

The story is told from Ally’s POV and I liked her narration throughout. She is a resilient and determined character and I was rooting for her the whole way. But I would have liked a chapter or two from Bon’s POV, just to know what he was thinking and his motivations.

There are a lot of flashbacks in this book. I liked the way they were written and spaced out. They worked really well.

I’m looking forward to Book 2 and finding out what happens next.

3.5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Thank you Harper Collins Australia for the review copy.

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✨Book Feature & Review✨

The Kelly Hunters by Grantlee Kieza is an extremely informative historical non-fiction focusing on the other side of the famous Ned Kelly narrative.

If you are from Australia, you likely know the tale of the infamous Ned Kelly and the Kelly Gang. But for those of you from overseas who may not know, Ned Kelly is Australia’s most famous outlaw. He was a bushranger in the late 1870s and early 1880s and known for bank robberies and hold ups. The events at Stringybark Creek sparked off the biggest manhunt Australia had ever seen.

While most books focus on The Kelly Gang’s POV and how they ended up there, this book focuses on the police, soldiers, undercover agents and Aboriginal trackers who were all involved in hunting the gang. This book is very much the other side of the story. It is filled with details, information and photos. I found it a very interesting read.

I would recommend it to readers of historical non-fiction or anyone who is interested in Australian history.

4.5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Thank you Harper Collins Australia for the review copy.

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✨Book Feature & Review!✨

Northwind by Gary Paulsen

Gary Paulsen wrote the bestselling book Hatchet, which I read many years ago, so I was interested in reading this tale of survival on the raging seas and coastal wilderness.

Northwind follows the character of Leif, a young orphan boy, who is forced to flee in a small canoe with only a handful of supplies when a deadly plague sweeps through a small fishing camp. Leif now has to face the perils of the oceans and tides and learn to rely on himself.

This book is classified as middle grade but some of the passages about the plague are quite graphic so I would recommend this for upper MG.

As always, the writing is poetic and draws the reader right in with amazing descriptions of the wilderness. I especially enjoyed the scenes with the whales and dolphins. At times it felt like I was right there with them.

I would recommend this to fans of Hatchet and readers who enjoy stories of survival.

3.5 Stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫

Thank you Pan Macmillan Australia for the review copy.

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✨January Wrap Up✨

Do you like to reread books? If so, what are some of your favourite books to reread?

I read three books last month and two of them were rereads. For me rereading a favourite is like visiting old friends and I love it.

🌿The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking Trilogy Book 1) by Patrick Ness

4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🌿The Ask and the Answer (Chaos Walking Trilogy Book 2) by Patrick Ness

5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🌿I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys (Harper Collins Australia review copy)

5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a great reading month and I’m hoping February will be just as good!

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✨Book Feature & Review ✨

The World Between Blinks: Rebellion of the Lost by Aime Kaufman and Ryan Graudin

Rebellion of the Lost is the second book in the World Between Blinks series. I really enjoyed this one. It had everything a middle grade adventure novel needs. Excitement, plenty of adventure, mystery and likeable characters. I especially liked the two main characters Jake and Marisol.

I haven’t read the first book but that was okay because at the front of the book there is a clever little recap of the previous story. Although I will be going back and reading the first book.

There is also a fun fact file at the end of the book too, giving some more information on some of the interesting places and legends visited in the book.

I can see many MG readers really enjoying this one!

4.5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Thank you Harper Collins Australia for the review copy.

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✨Book Feature & Review✨

Enid Blyton’s Famous Five: Five on a Treasure Island - Graphic novel by Béja and Nataël

Enid Blyton’s classic children’s books have been adapted into graphic novels! I read the original novels when I was in primary school and I loved them, so I was super excited to see them as graphic novels.

This graphic novel, “Five on a Treasure Island”, follows the story of the first book in the series, where the main characters all meet and go on their first adventure.

Obviously, because it is a graphic novel the story has been shortened somewhat but I think it was well adapted and still true to the story.

This graphic novel captures the adventure and fun of the original books. The illustrations are colourful and lively, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading.

4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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✨Book Feature & Review✨

I Must Betray You by Rita Sepetys, the award winning author of Salt to Sea. Thank you Hachette Aus for the review copy.

This is my first read by Ruta Sepetys and all I could think was wow…what took me so long to read this author’s books? I have no idea but I’m so glad I finally did.

I Must Betray You tells the story of Cristian, a 17 year old student during the Romanian Revolution in 1989. It shines a spotlight on a dark and frightening chapter of history that not many people know about.

This book is extremely well written. It’s poetic and haunting style drew me right into the story and I couldn’t put it down. I just had to know what would happen next.

Cristian was a likeable character and I enjoyed his narration. I found myself worrying about him the entire novel and hoping everything would be okay. This is an intense story, with some serious and dark themes, so there was no guarantee that anything would be.

There are also some fantastic historical notes at the end of the book, with facts that give some extra context.

I recommend this for fans of YA historical fiction and anyone who wants to know more about the Romanian Revolution.

5 Stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

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✨Book Feature & Review ✨

Thank you Hachette Aus for the review copy of The Ship of Clouds and Stars by Amy Raphael.

This book is a gorgeous middle-grade adventure, which follows young Nico Cloud, who desperately wants to be a scientist and palaeontologist. But in 1832 young girls are not meant to be interested in science or fossils but in embroidery and dresses.

But Nico won’t let that stop her and when she accidentally stows away on a ship, she is catapulted on the adventure of a lifetime. Nico is a clever and determined MC and I found myself rooting for her the entire way

I really enjoyed this MG adventure. It is filled with likeable characters and vivid storytelling. There are also scientific facts dotted throughout that I found both educating and interesting.

I would recommend this for fans of MG books and adventures on the sea.

4.5 Stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

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✨Book Feature & Review✨

Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas is a YA contemporary fantasy retelling of Peter Pan but it is not the fairytale we all remember. This retelling is a much darker and sadder take on the story.

It follows eighteen year old Wendy who is dealing with the loss of her younger brothers, John and Michael, and has no memory of what happened to them five years ago. All she knows is that they went missing in the woods.

Then Wendy meets a mysterious boy who insists that he is Peter Pan and needs her help. Wendy has a feeling he might know what happened to her brothers.

The plot is unexpected and original, it is quite different from other retellings I’ve read. There is no Captain Hook or Tinker Bell. I just wish the pacing was a little faster. The writing had a sad atmospheric tone. I think readers who like slow paced contemporary fantasy books would really enjoy this one.

I loved the character of Peter and how he was portrayed in the book. He was the bright spark in the story, like a burst of pixie dust in the night. He was definitely my favourite.

This book deals with some heavy themes of loss, death, anxiety and PTSD. I would recommend this for upper YA readers who like dark contemporary fantasy books.

3.5 Stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫

Thank you Pan Macmillan Australia for the review copy.

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✨Book Feature & Review✨

The School Teacher of Saint-Michel by Sarah Steele

When I first received this book to review from Hachette Aus, I was immediately interested because I am a school teacher myself, and I haven’t read many books with teachers as the main character.

This book is an incredible historical fiction of the bravery of a small town during WWII in occupied France, and in particular the courage and determination of the school teacher, Lucie Laval.

This book was well written with dual timelines and multiple POVs, which worked really well together. I loved reading about 1942 and following Lucie Laval through her story and also the present day timeline of Hannah, who is trying to piece together the series of events, exactly what happened in 1942, and where her grandmother fitted into it all.

I really enjoyed this historical fiction and at some points I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happened next. It was beautiful, inspiring and heartbreaking all at once.

I recommend this for readers who enjoy adult historical fiction and are interested in WWII.

5 Stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

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🦊Book Feature & Review🦊

Pax: Journey Home is the sequel to Sara Pennypacker’s critically acclaimed middle-grade novel Pax, and it was wonderful. I absolutely loved this adorable little book full of heart.

If you liked the first book, you were will love this one.

I love how this story is told from both Peter’s and Pax’s POVs. We see how much each of these characters have grown since the last book and how they continue to grow throughout this one.

This book is beautifully written and a heartwarming story. Although it is a little sad in places, it’s not what I’d call a ‘sad’ animal story. I find most animal stories tend to be super sad, so it was nice to read one with a hopeful tone.

There are also the most beautiful illustrations all through the novel, which added that extra something special.

All around, this was a satisfying read. I recommend this to readers of middle-grade novels and those who like animal stories.

Thank you Harper Collins Australia for the review copy.

4 Stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

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🌸Book Feature & Review🌸

Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean

I live in Melbourne and we are back in lockdown. This is now our sixth time around, but while I can’t go anywhere, Tokyo Ever After transported me to Japan and I absolutely loved every second of it.

This book was such a fun read. We follow the story of Izumi Tanaka, a Japanese American teenager, who just wants to get through graduation and figure out her place in the world. But her quiet, ordinary existence is turned upside down when she finds out that her father is the Crown Prince of Japan. Next thing she knows, she is on a plane to Tokyo and she realises she has so much to learn.

Izumi was a great main character and her narration was lively and entertaining. She was relatable and so human. She made mistakes but she never let that stop her from trying.

This book is an enjoyable standalone read but I’m really hoping for a sequel. I definitely can see more to Izumi’s story.

I highly recommend this to fans of YA romance and stories about royalty.

4 Stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Tokyo Ever After is out now.

Thank you Macmillan for the review copy.

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✨Book Feature & Review✨

Sisters of the Resistance by Christine Wells follows the story of two sisters, Gabby and Yvette, during WWII and their work for Catherine Dior’s spy network in Paris.

Catherine Dior is the beloved sister of Christian Dior, the famous fashion designer. She was also an incredibly brave woman who was at the centre of a resistance spy network in Paris during WWII.

This book was brilliantly written. It gripped me from the first page and I honestly couldn’t put it down. It is told through a series of flashbacks, jumping from 1947 back to 1944. The jumps in timeline are seamless and I didn’t find it jarring at all.

I liked the main characters, Gabby and Yvette, and was invested in their stories. The bond between the sisters was beautiful.

This book was an interesting blend of fashion, history and suspense. I highly recommend it to fans of historical fiction and anyone who wants to know more about Paris in 1944, at the end of the war.

4.5 Stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫

Thank you Harper Collins for sending me this review copy.

✨What’s your favourite historical fiction?✨