Towards Zero

By Agatha Christie 

(Blurb: An elderly widow is murdered at a clifftop seaside house...What is the connection between a failed suicide attempt, a wrongful accusation of theft against a schoolgirl, and the romantic life of a famous tennis player? To the casual observer, apparently nothing. But when a houseparty gathers at Gull's Point, the seaside home of an elderly widow, earlier events come to a dramatic head. It's all part of a carefully paid plan - for murder...)

Now we al know Agatha Christie is a crime-writing genius, but this novel just blew me away! The plot is so entwining and complex, it's pure madness! And as Seneca once said, "There is no great genius without some touch of madness." The ending is so surprising and twisted, but isn't at the same time, because once we realise who the murderer is, we realise that we've been missing all the signs. Gosh, made me feel like such an idiot, but oh, I loved it! I won't give away any spoilers. You won't be sorry! 10/10 :) 

Rebel Angels 

By Libba Bray

(Blurb: Ah, Christmas! Gemma Doyle is looking forward to a holiday from Spence Academy, spending time with her friends in the city, attending ritzy balls, and on a somber note, tending to her ailing father. As she prepares to ring in the New Year, 1896, a handsome young man, Lord Denby, has set his sights on Gemma, or so it seems. Yet amidst the distractions of London, Gemma’s visions intensify–visions of three girls dressed in white, to whom something horrific has happened, something only the realms can explain...

The lure is strong, and before long, Gemma, Felicity, and Ann are turning flowers into butterflies in the enchanted world of the realms that Gemma alone can bring them to. To the girls’ great joy, their beloved Pippa is there as well, eager to complete their circle of friendship.

But all is not well in the realms–or out. The mysterious Kartik has reappeared, telling Gemma she must find the Temple and bind the magic, else great disaster will befall her. Gemma’s willing to do his intrusive bidding, despite the dangers it brings, for it means she will meet up with her mother’s greatest friend–and now her foe, Circe. Until Circe is destroyed, Gemma cannot live out her destiny. But finding Circe proves a most perilous task.)

Libya Bray wows us again through her second spell-binding narrative. Our favourite imperfectionist, Gemma Doyle, is back for the holidays and we journey with her and her friends as they discover new secrets and what we've all been waiting for: the secret to Circe's identity.

In this novel, Gemma undergoes major changes: her visions intensify, bringing frightening and cryptic messages. And as she struggles to maintain afloat amidst all of her inner turmoil, her outside world starts to shatter as well, piece by piece. Will the ones she could count on the most turn out to be  the ones coveting her destruction and seeking to destroy everything in their paths in the process? Gemma, Ann and Felicity only have one shot to make everything right and to face their surprising foe. With unsurmountable challenges and losses to overcome, and battles to win, can the girls come out on top, having saved the magical world, and still have the time and energy to save their own social lives? New to the scene is the handsome and alluring Simon Middleton and the captive nd distraught Nell, who despite her madness, helps Gemma uncover the true identity of Circe. 

You'll have to find out for yourself what happens and read this amazing sequel! With twists and turns at every corner, you won't be a blue to help turning the pages. I give this novel a 9/10! Enjoy! 

A Great and Terrible Beauty

By Libba Bray 


(Blurb: A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy--jumble them all together and you have this complicated and unusual first novel.

Sixteen-year-old Gemma has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother's death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls' academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left with the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order. A Great and Terrible Beauty is an impressive first book in what should prove to be a fascinating trilogy.)

This was my first Libba Bray encounter and I was drawn in from the very first page. She writes in an attempt to draw the reader into the story, and she succeeds, without a doubt! Gemma Doyle is far from perfect, and that's what's so enchanting about her. She isn't trying to be perfect or be anyone but herself.   She struggles though unimaginable hardships and loss, but finds some unlikely friends who, we've yet to find out, either hold her up while she's drowning or who drag her down into the unthinkable turmoil of the magical world they've uncovered. Libba Bray is an absolute genius at writing interesting, though certainly imperfect characters that are so unpredictable that you feel you never know them fully. This is definitely a mystery novel, as we're left in constant wonder at the security of Gemma's relationships and what on earth is going to happen! This is only the first in Gemma Doyle trilogy and so we've only scratched the surface of Gemma's life and adventures. This novel is full of shocking discoveries and enchanting settings and will surely keep you on the edge of your seat and turning the page. Go ahead and read it! Iy's a fascinating, supernatural story that is unlike any I have every read. 9/10 :)

The Winter Ghosts

By Kate Mosse

(Blurb: In the winter of 1928, still seeking some kind of resolution to the horrors of World War I, Freddie is traveling through the beautiful but forbidding French Pyrenees. During a snowstorm, his car spins off the mountain road. Dazed, he stumbles through the woods, emerging in a tiny village, where he finds an inn to wait out the blizzard. There he meets Fabrissa, a lovely young woman also mourning a lost generation. 
Over the course of one night, Fabrissa and Freddie share their stories. By the time dawn breaks, Freddie will have unearthed a tragic, centuries-old mystery, and discovered his own role in the life of this remote town.)

This novel was a 'spur of the moment' buy. I didn't know if I'd ever get to reading it. let alone to liking it! I thought it would be a romance (which, I'm ashamed to say, swayed my decision on whether to buy it) but I fell so hard in love with the story that I found early on, that I didn't care that it wasn't a typical love story. 

Freddy's journey quickly became my own, his sorrows were mine and I loved going on his journey with him, both mentally and physically. He is such an intense character, desperate to heal himself, yet also convinced he will mourn for the rest of his days. But once he meets her, he realises that by unearthing the memories and truth of someone else's past, he can unearth his own, and finally find respite and healing.

This novel was very addicting and was a pleasure to read, though the mystery of the story did get confusing at some points, leaving me with questions that never really got answered. This made reading the novel quite difficult, though I did enjoy it very much. With that in thought, I give this novel a 8/10 :) 

"I am simply a book drunkard." 
~ L.M. Montgomery

"Reading one book is like eating one potato chip."
~Diane Duane

Princess of the Midnight Ball

By Jessica Day George

(Blurb: A tale of twelve princesses doomed to dance until dawn… 

Galen is a young soldier returning from war; Rose is one of twelve princesses condemned to dance each night for the King Under Stone. Together Galen and Rose will search for a way to break the curse that forces the princesses to dance at the midnight balls. All they need is one invisibility cloak, a black wool chain knit with enchanted silver needles, and that most critical ingredient of all—true love—to conquer their foes in the dark halls below. But malevolent forces are working against them above ground as well, and as cruel as the King Under Stone has seemed, his wrath is mere irritation compared to the evil that awaits Galen and Rose in the brighter world above. 

Captivating from start to finish, Jessica Day George’s take on the Grimms’ tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses demonstrates yet again her mastery at spinning something entirely fresh out of a story you thought you knew.)

This is a beautiful fairytale, full of magic and mysteries, love and danger. Unlike many other retellings, this novel is full of sorcery and unbelievable magic that assure us that it's all a fairytale, which is great, as it takes us right back to our childhood! This story is beautifully woven (pun intended ;)) and is great to read when your in the mood for a light-hearted fairytale, that keeps you falling in love with the main characters. 
What I really love about this novel is Rose, the main character and the eldest of the 12 princesses. She's not perfect, we see her getting annoyed with her sisters, blaming Galen for her illness and being rude to the people around her. And Galen is just so sweet! He's quite of an enigma as well! He's an ex-soldier who knits his own socks and such, which, though common in that time, is quite odd to read, at first. But his willingness and determination to save the woman he loves (not to mention her 11 younger sisters), makes his bravery and loveliness shine!! 
This is just the perfect, light novel to read when you want to escape down memory lane to a place and time where monster's lurk just below the surface and where you're knight in shining armour actually wears armour! 
I give this an 8/10! It's so sweet, and you're sure to love it :)