Bookstagram & Creative Blog Tour: ‘Spellhacker’ by M.K. England (+ INTL giveaway!)

Hi everyone! Today I’m excited to participate in the bookstagram & creative blog tour for SPELLHACKER by M.K. England hosted by MTMC Tours! Packed with high-stakes action, humor, and hijinks, this genre-bending YA fantasy from the author of The Disasters is about a heist gone wrong in a futuristic world with hi-tech magic. Published on January 21st, 2020 from HarperTeen! Check below my tour stop and make sure to visit all the bookstagram & creative stops for a chance to win the two international giveaways!

About the Book:
Title: Spellhacker
Author: M.K. England
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publishing Date: January 21st, 2020
Genres: YA Fantasy/Sci-Fi
ISBN: 0062657704
Buy: Author’s Website | Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Packed with high-stakes action, humor, and hijinks, this genre-bending YA fantasy from the author of The Disasters is perfect for fans of Marie Lu and Amie Kaufman.

In Kyrkarta, magic—better known as maz—was once a freely available natural resource. Then an earthquake released a magical plague, killing thousands and opening the door for a greedy corporation to make maz a commodity that’s tightly controlled—and, of course, outrageously expensive.

Which is why Diz and her three best friends run a highly lucrative, highly illegal maz siphoning gig on the side. Their next job is supposed to be their last heist ever. But when their plan (literally) blows up in their faces, they’re driven to unravel a conspiracy at the very center of the spellplague—and possibly save the world. No pressure.

With a diverse cast, infinite wit, and a fresh take on magic, Spellhacker will keep readers on the edge of their seats from start to explosive finish.

I was a big fan of M.K. England’s debut and have been anxious to read more from this author ever since finishing The Disasters back in 2018. Spellhacker has been on my radar the past year and I’m so delighted with my first highly anticipated read of 2020 because this blew me away all over again!

What both books have in common (and why M.K. England is now an auto-buy author of mine) is the fabulous ‘found family’ trope as well as casual and naturally incorporated diversity. You know going in that you’re going to be treated to a fun fast-paced romp with characters who have or will shortly develop a fierce ride-or-die bond AND they will reflect a range of ethnicities and sexual orientations. My recipe for the perfect book!

ARC Review – ‘The Last Smile in Sunder City’ by Luke Arnold

Title: The Last Smile in Sunder City
Author: Luke Arnold
Genre: Fantasy
Word/Page Count: 352 pages (paperback)
Publication Details: by Hachette Australia on January 28th, 2020
RRP: $22.99 AUD (paperback)

Blurb from Goodreads:

I’m Fetch Phillips, just like it says on the window. There are a few things you should know before you hire me:
1. Sobriety costs extra.
2. My services are confidential – the cops can never make me talk.
3. I don’t work for humans.

It’s nothing personal – I’m human myself. But after what happened, Humans don’t need my help. Not like every other creature who had the magic ripped out of them when the Coda came…
I just want one real case. One chance to do something good.
Because it’s my fault the magic is never coming back.

The Last Smile in Sunder City is a brilliantly voiced fantasy for fans of Ben Aaronovitch, Rotherweird or Terry Pratchett’s Discworld, and the debut novel from actor Luke Arnold – known for his lead role in Black Sails!

The Last Smile in Sunder City is a dark fantasy noir novel in which the protagonist investigates a disappearance that appears simple on the surface, but as he digs deeper, he becomes embroiled in a complex web of deceit, corruption and violence.

ARC Review – ‘The Sisters Grimm’ by Menna van Praag

Title: The Sisters Grimm
Author: Menna van Praag
Genre: Fantasy
Word/Page Count: 496 pages (paperback)
Publisher: by Penguin Random House on February 4th, 2020
RRP: $32.99 AUD (paperback)

Blurb from Goodreads:

Once upon a time, a demon who desired earthly domination fathered an army of dark daughters to help him corrupt humanity . . .

As children, Goldie, Liyana, Scarlet, and Bea dreamed of a strange otherworld: a nightscape of mists and fog, perpetually falling leaves and hungry ivy, lit by an unwavering moon. Here, in this shadowland of Everwhere, the four girls, half-sisters connected by blood and magic, began to nurture their elemental powers together. But at thirteen, the sisters were ripped from Everwhere and separated. Now, five years later, they search for one another and yearn to rediscover their unique and supernatural strengths. Goldie (earth) manipulates plants and gives life. Liyana (water) controls rivers and rain. Scarlet (fire) has electricity at her fingertips. Bea (air) can fly.

To realize their full potential, the blood sisters must return to the land of their childhood dreams. But Everwhere can only be accessed through certain gates at 3:33 A.M. on the night of a new moon. As Goldie, Liyana, Scarlet, and Bea are beset with the challenges of their earthly lives, they must prepare for a battle that lies ahead. On their eighteenth birthday, they will be subjected to a gladiatorial fight with their father’s soldiers. If they survive, they will face their father who will let them live only if they turn dark. Which would be fair, if only the sisters knew what was coming.

So, they have thirty-three days to discover who they truly are and what they can truly do, before they must fight to save themselves and those they love.

The Sisters Grimm is a dark fairytale in which our heroines all face hardship and suffering with no guarantee of a happy ending. In fact, the tagline states ‘Three will live. One will die‘ making it crystal clear that this story isn’t going to end well for one of the four sisters. And those who do survive won’t be coming out of this unscathed.

Book Review – ‘Let It Go’ (Disney: Twisted Tale #5) by Jen Calonita

Title: Let It Go (Disney: Twisted Tale #5)
Author: Jen Calonita
Genre: Fantasy
Word/Page Count: 320 pages (paperback)
Publisher: by Scholastic Australia
RRP: $16.99 AUD (paperback)

Blurb:

What if Anna and Elsa never knew each other?

As the future Queen of Arendelle, Princess Elsa’s life is full of expectation and responsibility—not to mention, questions. What type of ruler will she be? When will she have to pick a suitor? And why has she always harboured the feeling that some critical piece of herself is missing?

Following the unexpected death of her parents, Elsa is forced to answer those questions sooner than she’d hoped, becoming the sole ruler of her kingdom and growing lonelier than ever. But when mysterious powers begin to reveal themselves, Elsa starts to remember fragments of her childhood that seem to have been erased–pieces that include a very familiar-looking girl.

Determined to fill the void she has always felt, Elsa must take a harrowing journey across her icy kingdom to undo a terrible curse…and find the missing Princess of Arendelle.

I’m a grown-up who is ridiculously fond of Elsa and has bought every single funko pop of her character, so when I had the opportunity to review ‘Let It Go’, an alternate version of the movie in which Elsa and Anna never grew up together, I grabbed it with both hands! This is my first experience with the Disney series of ‘Twisted Tales’ and I really enjoyed it. 🙂

Review – ‘Season of the Witch’ by Sarah Rees Brennan

Title: Season of the Witch
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy/Horror
Word/Page Count: 288 pages (paperback)
Publication Details: by Scholastic Australia on 4th July, 2019
RRP: $16.99 AUD (paperback)

Blurb from Goodreads:

It’s the summer before her sixteenth birthday, and Sabrina Spellman knows her world is about to change. She’s always studied magic and spells with her aunts, Hilda and Zelda. But she’s also lived a normal mortal life – attending Baxter High, hanging out with her friends Susie and Roz, and going to the movies with her boyfriend, Harvey Kinkle.

Now time is running out on her every day, normal world, and leaving behind Roz and Susie and Harvey is a lot harder than she thought it would be. Especially because Sabrina isn’t sure how Harvey feels about her. Her cousin Ambrose suggests performing a spell to discover Harvey’s true feelings. But when a mysterious wood spirit interferes, the spell backfires in a big way.

Sabrina has always been attracted to the power of being a witch. But now she can’t help wondering if that power is leading her down the wrong path. Will she choose to forsake the path of light and follow the path of night?

With the new season of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina having dropped on Netflix, I imagine there will be more than a few fans who binge-watch and then are sadly bereft of Sabrina-content. If so, allow me to suggest the tie-in book series by Sarah Rees Brennan! The first book is a prequel to the tv series (with the upcoming two books taking place after the events of each season) and requires no knowledge of the show so that it’s also welcoming for newcomers who can pick it up before tuning in on Netflix.

Book Review – ‘Big Lies In A Small Town’ by Diane Chamberlain

Title: Big Lies In A Small Town
Author: Diane Chamberlain
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Mystery & Thriller
Word/Page Count: 400 pages (paperback)
Publication Details: by Pan Macmillan Australia on January 14th, 2020
RRP: $29.99 AUD (paperback)

Blurb from Goodreads:

North Carolina, 2018: Morgan Christopher’s life has been derailed. Taking the fall for a crime she did not commit, she finds herself serving a three-year stint in the North Carolina Women’s Correctional Center. Her dream of a career in art is put on hold—until a mysterious visitor makes her an offer that will see her released immediately. Her assignment: restore an old post office mural in a sleepy southern town. Morgan knows nothing about art restoration, but desperate to leave prison, she accepts. What she finds under the layers of grime is a painting that tells the story of madness, violence, and a conspiracy of small town secrets.

North Carolina, 1940: Anna Dale, an artist from New Jersey, wins a national contest to paint a mural for the post office in Edenton, North Carolina. Alone in the world and desperate for work, she accepts. But what she doesn’t expect is to find herself immersed in a town where prejudices run deep, where people are hiding secrets behind closed doors, and where the price of being different might just end in murder.

What happened to Anna Dale? Are the clues hidden in the decrepit mural? Can Morgan overcome her own demons to discover what exists beneath the layers of lies?

This book isn’t the kind that I would normally read, but it’s made me realize what amazing literary gems I’ve been missing because of my focus on YA and sci-fi/fantasy. If you’re a fan of historical fiction, dual narrators, different timelines and stories about small towns brimming with secrets, this is the book for you. And if like me, quite a few of those elements don’t normally appeal to you, DEFINITELY pick up this book because it’s highly engaging, overflowing with charm and features two female protagonists who you will root for right from the start!

Book Review – ‘If I Never Met You’ by Mhairi McFarlane

Title: If I Never Met You
Author: Mhairi McFarlane
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Women’s Fiction
Word/Page Count: 416 pages (paperback)
Publication Details: by Harper Collins Australia on January 6th, 2020
RRP: $24.99 AUD (paperback)

Internationally bestselling author Mhairi McFarlane returns with another heartful romantic comedy perfect for fans of Josie Silver, Sophie Kinsella, or Sally Thorne.

If faking love is this easy… how do you know when it’s real?

When her partner of over a decade suddenly ends things, Laurie is left reeling—not only because they work at the same law firm and she has to see him every day. Her once perfect life is in shambles and the thought of dating again in the age of Tinder is nothing short of horrifying. When news of her ex’s pregnant girlfriend hits the office grapevine, taking the humiliation lying down is not an option. Then a chance encounter in a broken-down elevator with the office playboy opens up a new possibility.

Jamie Carter doesn’t believe in love, but he needs a respectable, steady girlfriend to impress their bosses. Laurie wants a hot new man to give the rumor mill something else to talk about. It’s the perfect proposition: a fauxmance played out on social media, with strategically staged photographs and a specific end date in mind. With the plan hatched, Laurie and Jamie begin to flaunt their new couple status, to the astonishment—and jealousy—of their friends and colleagues. But there’s a fine line between pretending to be in love and actually falling for your charming, handsome fake boyfriend…

It’s been ages since I’ve read a good romance and this book was absolutely delightful! I’m a sucker for the fake dating trope, and it was elevated to a whole new level here with irresistibly charming characters, wonderful friendships between both the main couple as well as the heroine and other ladies, plus a fantastic balance between heartfelt emotion and fun witty banter. I found myself close to tears at a few points and then grinning widely the next moment, the writing got me so invested in these people’s lives and loves!

Book Review – ‘The Evolution of Claire’ by Tess Sharpe

Title: The Evolution of Claire
Author: Tess Sharpe
Genre: YA sci-fi
Word/Page Count: 400 pages (paperback)
Publication Details: by Scholastic Australia on May 1st, 2019
RRP: $16.99 AUD (paperback)

Blurb from Goodreads:

Discover the beginnings of one of Jurassic World ‘s most beloved characters–Claire Dearing–in this original action-packed young adult novel.

During the events of Jurassic World, Claire Dearing faced the savage fury of dinosaurs unleashed . . . but it wasn’t the first time. In this entirely new coming-of-age story, Claire lands an elite internship working for Simon Masrani and soon discovers his plans to build an all-new theme park–Jurassic World! Along the way, Claire establishes valuable relationships with both her peers and the prehistoric creatures she studies, but when the situation turns dangerous, she begins to see the dinosaurs in a different light. Fans of Jurassic World will delight in filling in the gaps of Claire’s past, all while gaining insights into the experiences that transformed her into the strong woman we know today.

This is such a brilliant movie tie-in! I’ve been a huge fan of Claire’s and loved Bryce Dallas Howard’s performance in the two Jurassic World movies, but there were some contradictory aspects of her character and inconsistencies that I couldn’t reconcile between the two movies. Being a huge action block-buster, the movies aren’t suitable for a character study, but The Evolution of Claire delves into her past and showcases the events and people who shaped her, providing the missing pieces to the puzzle.

What makes this book such a success is that if you’re already fond of Claire, it does justice to her character and will delight those who want more from her than the movies had room to provide. If you DIDN’T like Claire, there’s every chance that reading her coming-of-age story will win you over. 😉

ARC Review – ‘One of Us Is Next’ by Karen M. McManus

Title: One of Us Is Next
Author: Karen M. McManus
Genre: YA thriller
Word/Page Count: 308 pages (paperback)
Publication Details: by Penguin Australia on January 7th, 2020
RRP: $16.99 AUD (paperback)

Blurb from Goodreads:

The highly anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestselling thriller everyone is talking about, One of Us Is Lying! There’s a new mystery to solve at Bayview High, and there’s a whole new set of rules.

Come on, Bayview, you know you’ve missed this.

A ton of copycat gossip apps have popped up since Simon died, but in the year since the Bayview four were cleared of his shocking death, no one’s been able to fill the gossip void quite like he could. The problem is no one has the facts.

Until now.

This time it’s not an app, though—it’s a game.

Truth or Dare.

Phoebe’s the first target. If you choose not to play, it’s a truth. And hers is dark.

Then comes Maeve and she should know better—always choose the dare.

But by the time Knox is about to be tagged, things have gotten dangerous. The dares have become deadly, and if Maeve learned anything from Bronwyn last year, it’s that they can’t count on the police for help. Or protection.

Simon’s gone, but someone’s determined to keep his legacy at Bayview High alive. And this time, there’s a whole new set of rules.

This is the third book I’ve read by Karen M. McManus and my third 5-star rating, she can do no wrong in my eyes. ❤ All of her books have realistic characters that could practically walk off the page, the protagonists are endearing and easy to root for and she’s well-known for her killer plot twists! I didn’t expect a follow up to One of Us Is Lying as it felt like a self-contained story, but I am SO thrilled that One of Us Is Next came along because somehow, I loved this MORE than its predecessor. I didn’t think it was possible, but she outdid herself!

ARC Review – ‘Oasis’ by Katya de Becerra

Title: Oasis
Author: Katya de Becerra
Genre: YA thriller
Word/Page Count: 320 pages (paperback)
Publication Details: by Pan Macmillan AU on January 7th, 2020
RRP: $26.99 AUD (paperback)

Blurb from Goodreads:

The oasis saved them. But who will save them from the oasis?

Alif had exciting summer plans: working on her father’s archaeological dig site in the desert with four close friends . . . and a very cute research assistant. Then the sandstorm hit.

With their camp wiped away, Alif and the others find themselves lost on the sands, seemingly doomed . . . until they find the oasis. It has everything they need: food, water, shade—and mysterious ruins that hide a deadly secret. As reality begins to shift around them, they question what’s real and what’s a mirage.

The answers turn Alif and her friends against one another, and they begin to wonder if they’ve truly been saved. And while it was easy to walk into the oasis, it may be impossible to leave . . .

Katya de Becerra’s new supernatural thriller hides a mystery in plain sight, and will keep you guessing right up to its terrifying conclusion.

I adored Katya de Becerra’s debut What The Woods Keep so I was thrilled to hear she had a second YA novel coming out. Although this is nothing like the plot of her first novel, what I’ve come to see as her signature style is an outrageously unique and imaginative genre-bending premise featuring a smart, level-headed female protagonist who has at least one close friendship depicted as well as a minor hint of romance set against a creepy mind-blowing background.