Escape Into YA Books

Reviews YA books #young adult books #book review #books

[escapeintoyabooks]

Rule of Wolves, Leigh Bardugo

Reivew of Rules of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo

The final book in the King of Scars duology was set to be action-packed, and it most definitely was and more! Ravka’s is on the path to war and everyone from the king to spies is trying to find a way to avert it. And on top of that, the Darkling is back. Nikolai’s plan to remove the demon failed, instead ending with Zoya joined with the spirit of an ancient dragon. Now the pair must deal with…

View On WordPress

[escapeintoyabooks]

Can't Spell Treason Without Tea, Rebecca Thorn

*While it is marketed as a ‘cosy’ fantasy, I feel it is important to point out isn’t as ‘cosy’ as something like Legends & Lattes or The House in the Cerulean Sea – you’ll see why. This fantasy sees Reyna, a royal guard, abandon her duty to run away with Kianthe, her mage girlfriend, to open a book/ tea shop together. While Kianthe and Reyna have been secretly dating for years, this is their…

View On WordPress

[escapeintoyabooks]

Castle of Lies, Kiersi Burkhart

Review of Castle of Lies by Kiersi Burkhart

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my review in any way and the thoughts expressed are my own. The blurb for this young adult novel makes it seem like the POV is going to follow Thelia, cousin to the Princess secretly planning to become Queen herself, yet she is only one of four POVs we follow. The others are…

View On WordPress

[escapeintoyabooks]

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Hayao Miyazaki

Finally finished Nausicaa Boxset. Read my review on this classic manga but the famous Hayao Miyazaki

This was the first manga by Hayao Miyazaki, the creator and head of Studio Ghibli, and while he states he wasn’t very good, it is still an epic masterpiece. Nausicaa is a brave, kind heroine determined to strive through every new challenge in a quest to help everyone and the poisonous forest. It was amazing how much more complex the world is compared to the movie, I’m in awe that Miyazaki’s…

View On WordPress

[escapeintoyabooks]

Legends & Lattes, Travis Baldree

Review of the phenomenon that is Legends & Lattes

Recently, this cosy fantasy has dominated the fantasy genre and for good reason. As it states, this is a ‘high fantasy with low stakes’, and while that may not sound thrilling to typical fantasy readers, the writing made scenes like cleaning up a dilapidated old building into a comforting adventure. The author truly wrote a story that was absolutely perfect for their writing style. Viv is an…

View On WordPress

[escapeintoyabooks]

Set Fire To The Gods, Sara Raasch & Kristen Simmons

Review of Set Fire To The Gods, Sara Raasch & Kristen Simmons. Think Last Airbender + gladiators

Elemental powers are always intriguing and this blurb had me intrigued. Ash hates her god, Ignitus, and she secretly plans ways to kill him to stop his cruelty to her fellow gladiators and her country. Meanwhile, Madoc is ungifted with any earth powers but uses his strange, mysterious empath and his brother’s earth powers to win amateur gladiator fights to support his family. The two main…

View On WordPress

[escapeintoyabooks]

I'm A Gay Wizard, V. S. Santoni

Review of I'm A Gay Wizard

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my review in any way, and the thoughts expressed are my own. Content warning for this book: it contains a lot of scenes full of homophobia and transphobia, including slurs and violence. As a queer person, this made me uncomfortable, especially since it continued for so long…

View On WordPress

[escapeintoyabooks]

Cruel Illusions, Margie Fuston

Magicians vs vampires. Orphan & potential found family, but only if Ava can win the deadly competition of magic & nerve #bookreview #fantasybook #vampirebook #bookrecommendation

This YA book was full of magicians, vampires and learning to open yourself up after years of pain. The death of Ava’s mother left her and her younger brother, Parker, in the foster system, bouncing from one foster family to the next. Each new cut has left scar’s on Ava’s heart, closing herself off from everyone but Parker. It was great to see how she dealt with her desire for revenge against the…

View On WordPress

[escapeintoyabooks]

Chain of Thorns, Cassandra Clare

Review of Chain of Thorns by Cassandra Clare. Read what I thought & why I found it disappointing.

The final book in the Last Hours trilogy sees Cordelia having to truly decide between her long-time love (seemingly unrequited) of James and her developing feelings for Matthew. This love triangle has been developing throughout the trilogy but becomes a focus now that James’ is free of his ‘feelings’ for Grace and has realised he does, in fact, love Cordelia and always has. Love triangles have…

View On WordPress

[escapeintoyabooks]

Dragon Speaker, Elana A. Mugdan

First new review in a few years on blog. Check it out! #bookreview #netgalley

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my review in any way, and the thoughts expressed are my own. This young adult fantasy adventure followed Keriya, an albino girl, her best friend Fletcher and their unwanted tag-along Roxanne. It was intriguing that the majority of people were dark-skinned, making the one…

View On WordPress

[escapeintoyabooks]

Romanov, Nadine Brandes

Read my review of Romanov by Nadine Brandes, a unique retelling - a mix between Russian history & fantasy. @AusYABloggers @NetGalley

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my review in any way and the thoughts expressed are my own.

I absolutely loved the Anastasia movie as a child and was intrigued by this new adaption of the sad story of the Russian royal family. Set in a world much like ours that is filled with magic harnessed by Spell Masters…

View On WordPress

[escapeintoyabooks]

Mystery Snail Eggs Finally Hatched

Mystery Snail Eggs Finally Hatched

I love my tortoise shell mystery snails, they are funny and dorky and are way more entertaining than I expected. So when my snails laid an egg sac I was very excited.

That night I Youtubed how to care for the eggs and found some useful videos (links at the end). I followed the steps and made a small hammock that I put at the top of my betta tank since its’ lid and shallow water level created…

View On WordPress

[escapeintoyabooks]

Wicked Fox, Kat Cho

Check out what I thought of this popular book, Wicked Fox, Kat Cho. I didn't think the same as everyone else

I love Eastern Asian mythology, especially the kitsune from Japan and was intrigued to read the Korean version. Gumihos are powerful foxes that have lived for a thousand years and have gained immortality and the ability to transform into a beautiful woman. They are evil creatures who eat human livers or hearts to survive and use a magical bead, known as a yeowoo guseul, to absorb energy. Miyoung…

View On WordPress

[escapeintoyabooks]

Change of Posting Schedule

Do some health issues (chronic pain) & the inability to read much, I will be changing from weekly review posting to monthly. Maybe fortnightly if I'm doing well. Sorry for the schedule change, but do check back for more reviews in the future!

Do some health issues (mostly with my chronic pain) and therefore the inability to read much, I will be changing from weekly review posting to monthly. Maybe fortnightly if I’m doing well.

Sorry for the schedule change, but do check back for more reviews in the future!

View On WordPress

[escapeintoyabooks]

Asexual Awareness Week

In honour of Asexual Awareness Week here is a list of reading recommendations with ace main characters. #aceweek #ace #acefamily #asexual #Spectrum #LGBTQ #acepositivity #aceawareness

This week (20th – 26th of October) is Ace Awareness Week. I am super excited about this week, it’s my first since I came to terms with my sexuality. I am always very keen to remind myself that there are others like me out there and I am intrigued in their personal story and experience. Inspired by this, I have created a list of reading recommendations with ace characters. While I have not read…

View On WordPress

[escapeintoyabooks]

An Ember In The Ashes, Sabaa Tahir

Read my review of the hyped An Ember In The Ashes, Sabaa Tahir. What do you think of book hype? @AusYABloggers @sabaatahir @yalit @dystopian

A popular book that is famous thanks to the hype from Youtube and the rest of social media. This dystopian world is ruled by the Marshals who have enslaved the weaker group of people known as Scholars. The Marshals are obsessed with strength and power, while the Scholars – like their name suggests – are focused on knowledge. Now a Scholar and a Marshal will be drawn together.

But this dystopian…

View On WordPress

[escapeintoyabooks]

Easy Beginner Aquarium Plants

Easy Beginner Aquarium Plants I Want To Add To My Tanks

I have been slowly filling in my aquariums as my money allows. So far I have a few plants in including; Java Moss, Amazon Sword, Water Wiseria, Vallisnera, Frogbit, Riccia Fluitans and Pearl Grass.

As the name suggests I am blogging about easy beginner plants that I want to add to my aquariums. These plants are easy to grow with basic lighting, little fertilizers and no CO2.

Java Fern– one…

View On WordPress