Category: Review Archives

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Trigger by C. G. Moore: Review

Jay wakes up in a park with no memory of how he got there or why he is bleeding. Trigger takes us on a journey of grief, turmoil, betrayal and hope as Jay tries to remember and come to terms with what has happened to him.

This book does not shy away from the pain of this subject. Moore’s style of writing places the reader directly in the protagonist’s mindset, which is not always a comfortable place to be. Jay’s story is told in verse, each poem vividly painting his emotional turmoil in the aftermath of a rape. Trigger should be read with care as it contains themes of sexual violence, sexual trafficking, depression and suicidal thoughts.

This book is full of darkness but, as in life, we look to moments of light in search of hope. These moments can be found in Trigger in Jay’s time with his Mum, and her unflinching love and support, and in his friendships with Lau and Rain, whose loyalty and understanding is what ultimately brings Jay back to life.

This is an uncomfortable read but it is absolutely a story worth reading.

Órla Carr

Trigger
C. G. Moore
Little Island, March 2024
Paperback, £8.99
ISBN 9781915071538

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Little Bang by Kelly McCaughrain: Review

This second Young Adult novel from Kelly McCaughrain reads like a classic love story – boy meets girl, one thing leads to another and Mel gets pregnant. However, Little Bang is set in a very specific context – Belfast in early 2018.

The first part of Little Bang is sweet young romance and the voices of Sid and Mel spring off the page. Sid is the loveable, wild teen, complete with volatile relationship with his single mother Lucille. Mel is the “good” student, with strictly religious and overbearing parents. Unusually perhaps for a YA novel, the role of the parents in this story is crucial. Both families have their own views on abortion and coupled with its illegal status in Northern Ireland at the time, it makes for some fiery scenes between the teenagers and their parents.

The latter part of this book is a tough read, as Mel starts to feel alone with only “Little Bang” inside her as her constant companion. Sid finds himself pulled toward other interests as he figures out how he would provide for a child and have a sense of self. This is conveyed through his picking up of odd jobs and his struggles as a singer-songwriter.

Somehow within all of this, Kelly McCaughrain finds plenty of humour, much of it dark and through the sparky dialogue. Lucille in particular is a great character, full of the wisdom of a hard life but also the humour of a woman who has had to do everything the hard way.

The definition of a thought-provoking and important novel not just for young adults but for adults as well.

Derek Carney

Little Bang
Kelly McCaughrain
Walker Books, January 2024
Paperback, £8.99
ISBN 9781406375725

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The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland: Review

The Invocations

The Invocations is an enthralling book about witches and witch hunters in the modern world. Sutherland intertwines the lives of three girls as they embark on a mission to find a serial killer of witches. Each girl is well-developed with their flaws, voice, and unique goal; Zara wants to raise the dead, Jude wants to cure herself of a debilitating curse, and Emer wants to help desperate women, using her gift as a curse writer. Not only does Sutherland weave a tale of mystery into a paranormal thriller, but she also does not shy away from topical issues about women living in a patriarchal society.

The characters are easy to feel empathy for, making the tone of the book quite tense as the stakes grow and grow. The pacing is excellent and decorated with jaw-dropping plot twists to keep you on your toes. The way emotions are described makes it easy for the reader to set themselves right in the action. The only issue is that Zara quickly becomes a third wheel as a romance arises between Emer and Jude. This is redeemed by Zara’s wit and determination in her goals as well as the beautiful love story developing amongst demons, murderers, and hunters (oh my!). How does Sutherland fit it all in?

For anyone who is a fan of witchcraft and the occult, this book is for you. Believe me when I say that once you pick up The Invocations, you won’t be able to put it back down.

Rowan Beddows, 18

The Invocations
Krystal Sutherland
Hot Key Books, January 2024
Paperback, €10.99
ISBN 9781471410932

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The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste: Review

The Poisons we Drink by Bethany Baptiste

The Poisons We Drink is an engaging novel from the get-go. It follows Venus, a young witcher, who brews illegal love potions to support her family. When her mother is suddenly murdered by an unknown enemy, Venus is given the chance to take revenge. The price? Brew love potions to enslave some of Washington D.C.’s most influential politicians. The deeper she goes the more the lines between power and magic blur and the foggier the truth becomes.

This is an amazing story that holds up a mirror to our society’s own biases and prejudices through the well crafted and magical world that Baptiste brings to life. Her characters all have their flaws causing hurt and destruction, and yet they all strive to do the right thing, for their family, their friends and for the entire world. Venus’ own struggles and her perseverance make her a realistic and relatable character. Family and love are both central to this story. The characters are all trying to create a better, fairer and more equal world for those they care about most, no matter the cost or risk to themselves. Their loyalty and determination shows they will fight for justice and to protect those they care about.

This novel is full of twists and turns. The magic and politics throughout this story creates both tension and drive towards the climactic ending. The secrets the characters hold only add to the mystery and intrigue of this read. Baptiste doesn’t shy away from difficult topics such as prejudice, racism and loss that are present in our own version of earth.

Tess Fitzgibbon, 15

The Poisons We Drink
Bethany Baptiste
Sourcebooks, March 2024
Hardback, £18.99
ISBN 9781728251950

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Cupid’s Revenge by Wibke Brueggemann: Review

Cupid's Revenge by Wibke Brueggemann Cover

It was never Tilly’s intention to fall in love, we’re told in the first line of Cupid’s Revenge. But love doesn’t really care about intentions; it hits you like a truck and simultaneously makes you giddy while wrecking your life. Such is the story of this novel, narrated by sixteen-year-old Tilly, who is dragged into a matchmaking scheme by her best friend Teddy to help him get the girl of his dreams, the gorgeous Katherine Cooper-Bunting. The plan? Get into Cupid’s Revenge, an amateur theatre production that Katherine is in, and make her fall for him. But when Tilly first lays eyes on Teddy’s future girlfriend, she can’t get her out of her head. Of course, she can’t act on these feelings; she could never hurt Teddy like that. And she won’t. Will she?

This funny, heartfelt novel, a sapphic teen romance by Wibke Brueggemann set in post-COVID England, was an enjoyably relatable read. The first-person narration genuinely feels like a friend talking to you, and did a decent job at capturing how a teenager today would actually speak, as opposed to the awkward how-do-you-do-fellow-kids dialogue of some of this book’s contemporaries. Tilly is a compelling and likeable protagonist, whose struggles with being the black sheep of the family, her ailing grandfather’s worsening Alzheimer’s, and moving on from a friend’s tragic death make the reader feel for her and root for her to get a happy ending, even though some of her actions can make you want to scream at her. I’d recommend this novel to anyone interested in theatre or YA romance. If you love both of those, you’re in luck: this is the perfect book for you.

Connie McHugh, 16

Cupid’s Revenge
Wibke Brueggemann
Macmillan, June 2023
Paperback, £8.99
ISBN 9781529033748

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Wish of the Wicked by Danielle Paige: Review

Wish of the Wicked cover

Wish of the Wicked by Danielle Paige is a retelling of Cinderella and follows the story of a young girl called Farrow who is the only “Entente” left in a world full of humans. The Entente used to help keep all thirteen Queendoms at peace with each other, but when the old queen dies and Queen Magrit steps up to the throne, she outlaws magic. Farrow is the only survivor, but her magic is fractured. Desperate to seek revenge, Farrow hatches a plan to kill the queen and prince and has to make some difficult decisions. This book was an exciting page turner with twists and turns. However, it can become quite repetitive. The story does pick up and unfolds into a thrilling novel so I would strongly advise to keep reading. I also think it is very insightful as we receive a strong backstory on Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother which was intriguing and I couldn’t wait to read more.

Wish of the Wicked is the perfect book for young adults who want to read a fantasy novel, full of action, romance and anticipation. However, I would not recommend this for younger readers as there is a lot of death described in great detail and some romance. This book is perfect for fans of Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige and Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron, or anyone who just wants an exciting page turner you can’t put down. Overall, I loved this book as it has a compelling plot, interesting characters, and will always have you on the edge of your seat wanting to read more.

Ciara Martin, 14

Wish of the Wicked
Danielle Paige
Bloomsbury, 2023
Paperback, £11.99
ISBN 9781526636461

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Where the Heart Should Be by Sarah Crossan: Review

Where the Heart Should Be by Sarah Crossan Cover

Where the Heart Should Be is a quintessentially Irish novel. A love story about a lower-class Irish girl living in a one-room cottage with her parents and little brother, falling for an upper-class English boy living on the landlord’s estate. The book is set in 1846, a year after the Famine started, in the fictional town of Ballinkeel. It’s filled with all things Irish, from leaving offerings out for the faeries, hating the English aristocracy, and a healthy dose of the Catholic Church.

Following Nell, the reader gets a story about the Famine different to how most have heard it before. Hearing it told through the perspective of a teenage girl, instead of through a history book, makes the Famine so much more heart-breaking and real. Reading about the English landlords demanding rent, having seven-course meals, and ordering crates of champagne while Irish families were being kicked out of their homes and dying from hunger on the side of the road was horrifying.

I loved almost everything about this book. Watching the course of the famine play out in Sarah Crossan’s unconventional poetry style of writing was attention grabbing and impactful. The only issue I found with this book is that it felt as if Sarah Crossan was so attached to telling the story of the Famine that Nell’s romance ended up being sidelined towards the end. Where the Heart Should Be is a heartbreaking but hopeful and truly Irish story about one of the darkest parts of our history.

Isla Kerr, 16

Where the Heart Should Be
Sarah Crossan
Bloomsbury Publishing, March 2024
Paperback, £10.49
ISBN 9781526666567

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The Crimson Fortress by Akshaya Raman

The Crimson Fortress Cover

The Crimson Fortress is the sequel to The Ivory Key. Ashoka’s magic is gone. With the threat of war from enemy territory Lyria, which has been experimenting with dangerous magic, Ashoka is left unprotected and vulnerable. Vira, Ryia, Ronak and Kaleb are working together to restore magic and stability to Ashoka, but it is more difficult and dangerous than expected.

The Crimson Fortress has relatable characters that are all very different from each other. This book is told from the perspective of four siblings. The different points of view make it really interesting to read as you get insight into each character’s thoughts and often follow the story from completely different locations. The sibling relationship between Vira, Ryia, Ronak and Kaleb is relatable, because although they fight a lot, they have to work together to save their future. This book is set in an Indian inspired world with unique magical elements. The world is exciting to explore alongside the characters, discovering hidden secrets, rebel groups, cults and strange magic.

This book starts with a gripping adventure from the first page that is sustained throughout the rest of the book. Some of the side characters seem to be underdeveloped or not as deep as they could have been. This one complaint is easily made up for by the exciting and easy-to-follow plot and the unique magic that fills The Crimson Fortress. This book is great for fans of We Hunt The Flame and This Woven Kingdom.

Sabine Narzisi, 14

The Crimson Fortress
Akshaya Raman
Hot Key Books, 2023
Paperback, £8.99
ISBN 9781471411267

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Goddess Crown by Shade Lapite

Goddess Crown cover

Goddess Crown takes place in the Kingdom of Galla and is centred around Kalothia, who has grown up under the protection and guidance of her two guardians, Aunty and teacher in the Faledi Forest. Here she is kept hidden from the outside world, for her parents supported Queen Sylvia and thus were traitors of King Osura. So to protect her from the King and his assassins she stayed out of sight.

The day after she turns 16 disaster strikes and Kalothia’s life is turned upside down. Nothing is as it seemed and everything she thought she knew was a lie. Her life in the forest is swiftly replaced with her new role in Galla’s Royal Court. Kalothia will need to muster up all her strength and courage in order to survive and navigate this new world she has been propelled into.

I really enjoyed this book. It is fast paced and gorgeously written. There are so many beautifully described places and people that it is enchanting to read. The story is exciting and dramatic, which did in fact lead me to audibly gasp at certain parts. Kalothia is formidable and brave and can most certainly stand up for herself which was inspiring to read about. I think this book is for everyone who enjoys fantasy and adventure novels although there is a lot of violence and death which some readers might not like.

Lily Farrell, 17

Goddess Crown
Shade Lapite
Walker Books, February 2024
Paperback, £8.99
ISBN 9781529503715

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ASAP by Axie Oh: Review

ASAP is the charming companion romance of the book XOXO which can also be enjoyed as a standalone read. Going into ASAP by Axie Oh, I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I wanted to since I lack the K-pop interest that I thought I would need for this book. I was pleasantly surprised though, as I was captivated from the first page.

ASAP follows protagonists Sori, daughter of a K-pop company owner, and Nathaniel, her K-pop star ex-boyfriend. For her whole life Sori has been working towards becoming a K-pop idol, until she realises that it’s not exactly what she wants. This decision is not up to her as she’s stuck between the expectations of her mother and father. Sori is also faced with one difficult decision: Is her future worth sacrificing for a second chance at love? Throughout the story, there was one lingering question in the back of my mind: Can Sori break free from her parents’ expectations and become her own individual?

I absolutely loved the characters Oh crafted; a group of characters with diverse backgrounds and experiences, which ranged from the determined Sori to the enigmatic Nathaniel. The characters didn’t feel like mere words on paper. The relationships added layers of complexity and nuance to the narrative, which ranged from Sori’s interactions with her overbearing parents, to the tender moments shared between Sori and Nathaniel.

Although there were certain areas of the book where my attention wavered, Oh quickly brought it back with scenarios and tropes that fans of Korean dramas or romantic comedies would be very familiar with. It felt more like I was watching a K-drama unfold than reading a book, which was the winning formula that kept me eagerly turning the pages until the very end.

Martyna Bereźnicka, 15

ASAP
Axie Oh
HarperCollins Publishers, February 2024
Paperback, £13.79
ISBN 9780063299306