Tag: the dazzling heights

The Dazzling Heights by Katherine McGee – 12 Days of Blogmas

December 16, 2017

 I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I think I broke the request button on the Net Galley website when I saw this book as I fell absolutely in love with the first book in the series so I was desperate to get my hands on the sequel as we were left on some serious cliffhangers! Once again McGee transports us into this futuristic metropolis filled with drama, gossip and romance all of which as cheesy as it sounds kept me on the edge of my seat.

New York City, 2118. Manhattan is home to a thousand-story supertower, a breathtaking marvel that touches the sky. But amid high-tech luxury and futuristic glamour, five teenagers are keeping dangerous secrets. Leda is haunted by memories of what happened on the worst night of her life and will do anything to make sure the truth stays hidden. Watt just wants to put everything behind him, until Leda forces him to start hacking again. Rylin wins a scholarship to an upper-floor school and her life is transformed overnight. Avery is tormented by her love for the one person in the world she can never have. And then there’s Calliope, the mysterious, bohemian beauty who arrives in New York determined to cause a stir. But unbeknownst to them all, someone is watching their every move, someone with revenge in mind.

In the first book, I wasn’t a huge fan of Leda however since she’s been with Wyatt I’ve begun to like her a lot more. She’s changed in a good way and I’m in love with how much Wyatt cares for her! Rylin was another character I didn’t love as much in the first book but her chapters in this book were just so good, I loved the drama that came with her moving to her new school especially the whole teacher fiasco!

We’re also introduced to our new character Calliope, who I instantly fell in love with because she was just so different and I thought it was so creative and unique that she and her mom were both con-artists. She fitted in perfectly with the other characters with her carefully woven past with Atlas and I can’t wait to see what happens to her in the next book.

As for Avery, I was a little disappointed with her chapters and I just felt like they were filled with her moping around about her love for Atlas, fingers crossed in the next book she can pull herself together and get more involved with the action! Despite the futuristic setting and the number of innovative gadgets that fill the lives of this elite cast, there remained something essentially understandable and relatable about these characters which I wasn’t expecting to find and what made this book even more enjoyable than the first.

The characters in this book aren’t the only thing that makes it such a brilliant read but it’s dark and dramatic storyline that is just full of so many secrets, lies and lots of scheming. Each chapter leaves us with a cliffhanger and I won’t even talk about the ending because that was just so dramatic and now I’m desperate to get my hands on the next instalment; I need answers!

Overall, I absolutely love this series and all the drama, secrets and mystery that comes with it! If you’re looking for a dramatic yet romantic read that will easily keep you on the edge of your seat then definitely pick this one up, I promise you that you won’t be disappointed!

My Recent Net Galley ARC Approvals – September 2017

September 15, 2017

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I’ve been very lucky recently as I’ve been approved on Net Galley for some seriously exciting reads all of which I freaked out about when I got the confirmation email! For those who don’t know Net Galley is a service that enables publishers and authors to upload books to its website prior to publication and allows “professional readers,” such as reviewers, to request copies.

I’ve been a member since 2015 but I’ve never used it as much as I should, however now that I’m a student it’s perfect as it allows me to request and read books in exchange for an honest review. I’ll be posting my ‘Tips for New Net Galley Users’ post soon so come back and check that out to see how you can make the most out of Net Galley. I only requested four books this month as I didn’t want to overwhelm myself and I wanted to make sure I read and posted all my reviews on time. Anyway, these are the books that I was recently approved and expect honest reviews for all of them soon!

Invictus by Ryan Graudin – For those who read my ‘Most Anticipated Autumn Releases’ post you’ll know how excited I am for this book and how much I love Ryan Graudins series ‘Wolf by Wolf’. I’m so grateful that I don’t now have to wait to the end of September to read this book, however, my TBR and review pile is massive so knowing my luck it’ll be October by the time I get round to reading it!

‘Farway Gaius McCarthy is the son of a time-traveling Recorder from 2354 AD but after failing his final time-traveling exam Far takes a position commanding a ship with a crew of his friends as part of a black market operation to steal valuables from the past. During a heist on the sinking Titanic, Far meets a mysterious girl who always seems to be one step ahead of him. Armed with the knowledge that will bring Far’s very existence into question, she will lead Far and his team on a race through time to discover a frightening truth: History is not as steady as it seems.’ 

Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody – I’ve heard really good things about this book and after reading ‘Caraval’ by Stephanie Garber at the start of the year, I’ve been obsessed with books about festivals, circuses, and carnivals. I’ve also just ordered ‘The Night Circus’ because I need more!

Sixteen-year-old Sorina has spent most of her life within the smoldering borders of the Gomorrah Festival. Sorina’s rare talent allows her to create illusions that others can see, feel and touch, with personalities all their own. Her creations are her family, and together they make up the cast of the Festival’s Freak Show. But no matter how lifelike they may seem, her illusions are still just that—illusions, and not truly real. Or so she always believed…until one of them is murdered.

The Dazzling Heights by Katharine McGee – I read the first book in this series at the end of last year and fell in love with all the drama and mystery. I enjoyed all the different perspectives and can’t wait to see where the story continues as we were left on some serious cliff hangers at the end of the first book!

Leda is haunted by nightmares of what happened on the worst night of her life. She’s afraid the truth will get out – which is why she hires Watt, her very own hacker, to keep an eye on all of the witnesses for her. When Rylin receives a scholarship to an elite upper-floor school, her life transforms overnight. But being here also means seeing the boy she loves: the one whose heart she broke, and who broke hers in return. Avery is grappling with the reality of her forbidden romance and then there’s Calliope, the mysterious, bohemian beauty who’s arrived in New York with a devious goal in mind – and too many secrets to count.

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon – I’ve been seeing this book around but I had absolutely no idea of the plot when I requested it but I’m so glad that I did because it sounds really intriguing and creative! If you’ve read this book then I’d love to hear your opinions on it so feel free to leave a comment below!

The year is 2059. Nineteen-year-old Paige Mahoney is working in the criminal underworld of Scion London. Her job: to scout for information by breaking into people’s minds. For Paige is a dream walker, a clairvoyant and, in the world of Scion, she commits treason simply by breathing. However Paige gets kidnapped and transported to Oxford – a city kept secret for two hundred years, controlled by a powerful, otherworldly race. Paige is assigned to Warden, a Rephaite with mysterious motives. He is her master. Her trainer. Her natural enemy. But if Paige wants to regain her freedom she must allow herself to be nurtured in this prison where she is meant to die.