Reviews You Can Expect Soon. January TBR.

This TBR is EXTREMELY tentative. I generally just read what I feel like but, whilst saying that, these are my top priorities for next month.

1. 172 Hours On The Moon by Johan Harstad.

This is the book I am currently reading and I plan to finish during the month of January.

2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I know that reading a classic is a commitment but I feel like January is the perfect time to do so as I 1am on holidays for the whole month.

3. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April G. Tucholke

I was fortunate enough to receive this as a Christmas present. As a result, I would like to read it in January.

4. Eragon by Christopher Paolini

I was also fortunate enough to receive this for Christmas and would also like to read this in January.

5. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

I have read several of the Sherlock Holmes short stories and would love to continue with the rest of them that are in my volume/edition of Sherlock Holmes.

6. Skylark by Meagan Spooner

I have been so excited to read this book and now that I am lucky enough to have it in my possession I cannot wait to read it!

I do hope to read more books than what I have set for myself but I just wanted to leave some choice for myself. I may not read all of these books - I may change them for others. However, I am REALLY looking forward to reading all of these books. I hope to review them soon after I read them.

~ Jess

The Importance of a Good Writing Style

Have you ever stopped partway through reading an amazing book, just to appreciate the beautiful way the author has compiled completely abstract and random words to tell a beautiful story? This is a superb writing style and, personally, I will not call a book "good" if it does not have a brilliant writing style.

Many times I have found myself crying my eyeballs out over a book and later, after I have regained my strength, I have asked myself "why?". The obvious answer is "the character just died" or "her little sister has the plague" or even "she got separated from her family" but when it comes down to it, I am of the opinion that the writing style is a key element in the tear-jerking ability of the book.

For example, if a character were to die it would be a lot less tear-jerking if the author simply said "unfortunately, he died" or "due to the enemy's fire, the girl was shot and killed". Death and tragedy are to be handled with delicacy and, in books, only the correct writing style can provide this. However, in some genres (for example, psychological thriller) this is unnecessary if the narrator does not believe death is to be handled with subtlety. If the narrator is a serial killer, then the death of a character should be narrated in such a way that it makes the reader terrified.

The same can be said for the element of happiness in any book. It is much better if the author builds up to a positive emotional climax by using beautiful wording that develops the reader's anticipation.

Overall, writing style is of the utmost importance to ANY novel. It can be manipulated and changed from genre to genre but its main purpose is not only to tell the reader a story but to make them feel intensely. The emotions vary throughout the story but the reader should never be left feeling detached and I am of the opinion that the writing style of a book is extremely important in the entertainment and emotional response of any reader's experience. All the other elements of a novel are also key, but in their own individual way. Writing style, is vital to the reader's emotional reaction and the overall beauty of the story.

By Jess

Branded by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalackiki

Branded is a fast-paced, action-packed and beautifully written young adult dystopian novel that has been wonderfully executed and was an absolute delight to read.

It follows the main character, Lexi Hamilton, as she is sent to the Branded world's form of a jail - the Hole. In this world people are sent to the Hole if they are accused of committing one of the seven deadly sins. Lexi is accused of committing "Lust" and now has blue markings wrapped around her neck symbolising her betrayal to the nation. Branded follows Lexi's journey as she fights to survive and to live - to really live.

The writing style of this novel was absolutely impeccable. You can tell that Abi and Missy have put in lots of effort to make this novel so beautiful to read. The stunning writing contributes to the excellency of this novel.

I loved the character of Lexi and it felt as if she was sitting right next to me the whole time I was reading this book. I was completely connected to her and I was always thinking about her fate, even if I wasn't reading the novel at that time.

The romance in this book was very well done and I felt as though it built my opinions of the two characters involved as they helped each other to develop and grow. I loved watching their relationship blossom and I now have another character ship!

The plot of this book was amazingly intense and I loved the journey that the characters went on - it had me on the edge of my seat the whole time!

The dystopian world that this book is set in is also well developed and has both a clear and in-depth description. There was not many new terms to learn and the world had a simply brilliant concept.

I would recommend to: Any Y.A. reader

Overall rating: 4.5 stars - with just a tiny bit more work on a few minor details, this book easily has the potential to be a 5-star book!

Review by Jess

Throne of Glass

Throne of Glass is a beautifully written young adult novel which is a poetic and entrancing blend of fantasy and dystopian. Sarah J Maas has crafted a brilliant piece of writing which I would now classify as a must-read for all lovers of young adult fiction.

The book depicts the story of an 18 year-old assassin named Celaena who has spent a year in a futuristic slave camp but is given a ticket of freedom for a high price. She is invited by the prince of her prosperous nation to fight as his champion in a life or death competition where the reward is the position of personal assassin to the king of the nation. Celaena accepts his invitation and embarks on an incredible journey.

There is only one way to describe the exceptionally written plotline which has been masterfully woven by Sarah J Maas; brutally beautiful. The base of the storyline, the competition, adds a savage, dystopian element to the plot which works particularly well with all other elements of the plot, such as; romance, mystery and fantasy. The storyline has so many little moments which Sarah J Maas captures perfectly. These moments are worth the read – you will never be bored. The magnificent plot will leave the reader feeling a whirl of emotions that they can only experience in a good book.

The setting, whilst not being a major part of this novel, is clear and the reader is never left confused. The world building is well-described yet succinct, leaving the reader with a clear yet uncluttered picture of the setting. Sarah J Maas also leaves room for further development throughout the rest of the series.

The characters in Throne of Glass are relatable yet unique and brave. The reader feels genuine emotion and concern for their wellbeing as well as being drawn to both the male and female protagonists. A distinctly controversial love triangle is brewing and the result is highly anticipated.

The stand out element of this novel is clearly the writing style. The poetic enhancements, mysterious fantasy aura and enchanting style creates of one of the most brutally beautiful books I have ever read.

This is an amazing novel and I definitely classify it as a must read for EVERY YA reader.

Review by Jess

Top 5 Quirky Female Protagonists

These are my top 5 favourite quirky female protagonists. Each of these wonderful characters are quite different from the average YA heroine. Each are well fleshed out and unique in their own original way.

1. Lilac LaRoux (These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner)

Lilac is one of the most original and well developed characters I have ever read about. Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner have meticulously planned out each and every one of her quirks as well as in-depth details about her past.

2. Cath (Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell)

Cath doesn't necessarily save the day but the reader definitely empathises with her and is cheering for her all throughout the book. From a writing perspective, Cath goes through a lot of extremely well-executed character development and the reader gains a great attachment to her as they watch her grow.

3. Harper Price (Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins)

The main characteristic which makes Harper unique is her reluctance to accept her heroic qualities. Harper reacts exactly how any teenager would if they were thrust into the same situation. She doesn't miraculously accept super-human abilities overnight and this makes her character much more believable from the reader's perspective. She adds a refreshing realism to the YA genre.

4. Emily (Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson)

Emily is a rare introvert in a world of confident and brave YA heroes. She grows immensely throughout the book and goes through extensive character development which delights all of Morgan Matson's readers.

5. Rachel Watts (Every Breath by Ellie Marney)

Rachel is a female YA adaption of Watson from "Sherlock Holmes". The "Every" trilogy (Every Breath, Every Word & Every Move) is written from Rachel's perspective and the overall success of the book benefits immensely from this. She has a distinct rawness about her that makes the reader empathise with her. This also makes her character genuine and unique.

By Jess

Panic by Lauren Oliver

Panic is a jaw-dropping dark contemporary novel which explores the idea of a dangerous competition in which teenagers complete death-defying tasks in order to try to win the pot of money.

This book is definitely a heavy-impact read that resonates with the reader long after the last page. Lauren Oliver has excellently crafted the duel point of view section of this book and the two plotlines intertwine. This has a great effect that left me shell-shocked and anxious for the characters on multiple occasions. Whilst I wasn't noticing an absolute beauty in the writing, I did really enjoy how the book was written. It was easy to follow and well-structured whilst also having lots of different intricacies that worked well with the plot and concept.

The characters are clean-cut and well fleshed out. They have unique and original personalities that stand out from each other. I really enjoyed their chemistry together and I loved watching how they worked together. The main character, Heather, went through a HUGE transformation in the duration of this book. I felt connected to the characters and I found myself holding my breath each time they faced a new Panic challenge.

The whole concept of the game "Panic" was well thought out and strongly structured. It was clearly explained and there was no new language that the reader needed to learn.

This was my first Lauren Oliver book and it definitely made me want to pick up more of her books.

The intensity of the plot was awe-inspiring. This is book really turns the page by itself and it kept me on the edge of my seat the WHOLE time!

I would recommend to: Y.A readers who love a thrilling, darker contemporary read, anyone who is having trouble getting into the contemporary genre (like I am) but wants a great contemporary read!

Overall Rating: 4 Stars

Review by Jess

Hello my fellow book addicts and welcome to my blog! My name is Jess and, as you may have guessed, I am addicted to YA novels. As a result, I have started this blog "Jess the Book Girl" in order to share my obsession with fellow booknerds. I hope you will find my posts both entertaining and useful. Please feel free to comment or make suggestions - I love to learn and improve. Thank you for venturing into my blog and I can't wait to start this journey. ~ Jess