And about this time of every year, the line will go to the ocean pier, and walk right off into the sea, and then we fall asleep.

Salt to the Sea
Author: Ruta Sepetys
Publication Date: February 4th 2016
Publisher: Puffin
~An (unsolicited) copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review~

Winter, 1945. Four teenagers. Four secrets.

Each one born of a different homeland; each one hunted, and haunted, by tragedy, lies…and war.

As thousands of desperate refugees flock to the coast in the midst of a Soviet advance, four paths converge, vying for passage aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that promises safety and freedom.

Yet not all promises can be kept.

Inspired by the single greatest tragedy in maritime history, bestselling and award-winning author Ruta Sepetys (Between Shades of Gray) lifts the veil on a shockingly little-known casualty of World War II. An illuminating and life-affirming tale of heart and hope.

Salt to the Sea is the kind of book that sneaks up on you. Going in, I honestly don't know what I was expecting, as it says in the back, the story, the ship, is not a tragedy a lot of people know, I sure didn't. It may have taken me a while to get into Salt to the Sea, but once I did, and the inevitable happened, it snuck up on me how much I actually cared about the story, the characters, what it represents and what happened.

 I think the reason why it took me so long to get into Salt to the Sea is because of the perspectives, and how short the chapters are, we just start getting to know a character before it switches again in between, Joana, a Lithuanian, Florian, the Prussian, Emilia, the Polish, and Alfred, the German sociopath that reinforces Hitler’s ideology. But what I did love about the chapters, was how it held the suspense, we slowly get threads of their lives and secrets until they're sewn together. 

The characters, eventually (minus the sociopath) get easier to connect to, to feel for the characters and real lives that are lost to the sea in a bigger tragedy than Titanic, and honestly, I didn't know how invested I was until the end.

Salt to the Sea is a mixture of desperation and fear, a desperation and fear that nobody should have to go through or witness.

Rating: 4/5

                                

 

Better late than never...

The Sword of Summer
Author: Rick Riordan
Publication Date: October 6th 2015 
Publisher: Puffin
~A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review~

Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his mother's mysterious death, he's lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers.

One day, he's tracked down by an uncle he's never met—a man his mother claimed was dangerous. His uncle tells him an impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god.

The Viking myths are true. The gods of Asgard are preparing for war. Trolls, giants and worse monsters are stirring for doomsday. To prevent Ragnarok, Magnus must search the Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years.

When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus makes a fatal decision.

Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die . . .

If you’ve read a Rick Riordan book before and loved it, you’re 99% guaranteed to feel the same about The Sword of Summer. Its trademark Rick Riordan, so here’s a check list we’ve come to know about anything Rick Riordan.

• Easy, likeable characters.

While I couldn’t really connect to Magnus, or any other character, you can relate to them, they’re easy to like and easy to root for. Magnus is sarcastic and even though doing the right thing gets him in trouble, and uh, killed, he does it anyway. Sam’s strong, and logical, and one hell of a multitasker. Heath and Blitz are, well, they’re Heath and Blitz, unique and loyal. Basically, they make one hell of an awesome team. And even Annabeth has a cameo!

• Mythology

This time around it’s Norse! Which, I was psyched about, because apart from the obvious, I don’t know much about Norse Mythology or Valkyries, and what I love about Rick Riordan’s are, you don’t know how much you’ve learned about the chosen mythology until you’ve finished it. And that’s the way you do it, because it doesn’t feel like learning, or reading a book on mythology, it’s done in a way that isn’t overwhelming, which any mythology can be, so you gradually learn who the God’s are, their children, their connection and relationships, and then of course, there’s Valhalla.

• Humour

You should know by now if you’ve read any Rick Riordan’s books, there’s always humour. Lots of it. In lots of places. Even by objects. Yes, objects. And while that makes the book seem light and fun, there are a lot of serious moments, too.

•   Quests

Of course there’s a quest. Duh. It even says so in the synopsis. I won’t tell you much about the quest, because I don’t want to give anything away, but I will say, it’s sneaky, and challenging, and honestly, you need to keep your eyes peeled for hints that start right from start.

• Brings God’s to life in a completely different way.

And sometimes, in a hopeless, unhelpful way that leaves the kids to do the work. Okay, let’s be honest, not sometimes. 

If you’ve read and liked the Percy Jackson series, but thought it was a little too young for you, Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard is the one for you.

 

 Rating: 4/5

                                 

Things Get Blown Up

The Blackthorn Key
Author: Kevin Sands
Publication Date: September 3rd 2015
Publisher: Puffin

 ~A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review~ 

London, 1665. Fourteen-year-old Christopher Rowe is apprenticed to master apothecary Benedict Blackthorn. In Blackthorn's shop, Christopher learns the delicate secrets of transforming simple ingredients into powerful medicines, potions and weapons. His beloved master guides him with a firm, steady hand - instilling him with confidence and independence that prove increasingly vital as Christopher learns of a mysterious cult preying on the most learned men in London. The murders are growing closer and closer to home and soon Christopher is torn from the shop with only a page of cryptic clues from his master and the unambiguous warning: 'Tell no one'.

Helped by his best friend, Tom, Christopher must decipher his master's clues, following a trail of deceit towards an unearthly secret with the power to tear the world apart

You know what I loved about The Blackthorn Key? It is so unique, and so interesting, and we’re talking about a middle grade book here, and I know that sounds bad, and I’m being a little harsh, but the problem I have with middle grades, the rare times I read them, is that they feel underdeveloped to me, but The Blackthorn Key is none of those things.