Becky's Book Reviews

What would you do if the bubble you’ve lived in all your life, is no longer big enough to contain all that you hope for? Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon (first published in 2015 by Corgi) Purchase a copy on Raru.co.za Everything, Everything is a book that has been talked about and celebrated worldwide and it’s easy to see why. The book ticks all the right boxes in terms of diversity, concept and beautiful writing.  And yet, for all the fuss that’s been made about the book, I found myself merely liking it, as opposed to falling madly in love with it the way the rest of my fellow bookish peers have. Well, someone’s got to be the black sheep amongst the glow-y reviewers. Guess it just so happens to be my turn. Oh, there was the beginning flutterings that I assume most people feel when they first fall in love, but the more I read the book, the more I realised that sometimes you need more than a suspension of disbelief to be wholly invested in a novel. That, and the fact that this...

Source: Review copy received from the publisher via Netgalley. You can purchase a copy of the book from Raru.co.za . Publication date: 8 December 2015 Publisher: Running Press Kids What a surprisingly fun, fierce and unique sci-fi debut novel from Tessa Elwood. Featuring a heroine that is brave, plucky and filled with heart, Inherit the Stars is a novel filled with the trademarks that define an excellent YA sci-fi novel: explosive action, strong characters fighting to save the world and world-building, which while not fully developed, is nonetheless intriguing. We’re introduced to Asa, our main protagonist, right in the middle of what seems to be a riot attack. Hailing from one of three interplanetary systems (each with their own rulers and own set of rules), Asa is desperate to save the injured and unresponsive sister she shares a strong bond with. What she ends up risking to save her sister’s life soon sees her making the biggest mistake of her life and upsetting the balance of a pre...

A beautiful, bittersweet and delightfully subverted reimagining of a classic story that has been (and still is) enchanting both young and old since the age when fairy tales first began.   Disclaimer: This review first appeared on Women24.com Beastkeeper by Cat Hellisen (published by Henry Holt in 2015)   Sarah is the only daughter of parents who’ve always lived nomadic lives.  Since her mother hates the wintry weather, the family is often forced to move to warmer places. As a result, Sarah spends most of her time feeling very lonely. What she doesn’t realise, is that there’s more to her family’s movements than they’re letting on; movements that soon have a huge impact on her when her mother walks out on the family. When her father’s behaviour changes dramatically, it isn’t long before Sarah’s deposited at the doorsteps of her grandparents’ home – grandparents that she’s never even met. In the isolated woods of her grandmother’s almost-defunct castle, our young heroine soo...

An earth invader becomes the enemy of her own people when she impulsively decides to save the life of a human boy. Conquest by John Connolly & Jennifer Ridyard (Headline) When I first received a copy of John Connolly and Jennifer Ridyard’s Conquest, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Books about aliens and alien invasions are certainly no stranger to the science fiction genre, and it certainly seems to be a concept that sells over and over again.  Of course, many will argue that the idea has reached its saturation point, but I think given the right treatment, any book that employs a commonplace fictional model could be as entertaining to read as the novel that’s being lauded for its distinctiveness. Connolly and Ridyard are certainly prime examples of that; and while I certainly had my fair share of issues with the book (which is the first in a trilogy, if I’m not mistaken), I have to admit that I was generally very impressed with what the co-authors have offered up. Beyond th...

Fantasy and magic realism meet myth, religious diversity and an explosion of cultural metropolis in this delightful and beautifully rendered earth-meets-fire tale. Disclaimer: This review also appears on Women24.com , a South African women's lifestyle website where I manage, amongst other things, an online books section.     The Golem and the Djinni (Blue Door) Book comparisons are rather dangerous. And yet, as a bibliophile, I often find myself unable to resist the allure of finding a new book that’s been touted as being along the same vein as another read; especially if that book just so happens to be one of my favourites. In this case, the book that The Golem and the Djinni was (and is) being compared to, is The Night Circus. Now, if you are a fan of fantasy and magic realism and haven’t read The Night Circus before, I would highly recommend that you do. It’s one of the most magnificent novels I’ve read to date, and one I can’t wait to see adapted to film (despite my ambiv...