After the Fire
Rating: 5/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Early copy courtesy of Usborne (Released June 1st 2017)
"The things I've seen are burned into me, like scars that refuse to fade".
Father John controls everything inside The Fence. And Father John likes rules. Especially about never talking to Outsiders. Because Father John knows the truth. He knows what is right, and what is wrong. He knows what is coming.
Moonbeam is starting to doubt, though. She's starting to see the lies behind Father John's words. She wants him to be found out.
What if the only way out of the darkness is to light a fire?
How Things (Don't) Change...
Wednesday, 24 May 2017
6 years ago
"Just lay on your back for me, this won't hurt a bit, will just feel a little cold, we just want to see if there's anything going on in there", the nurse tells me as I lay down for the first time in a cardiology assessment unit. I look to my left and my sister's holding my hand and smiling at me. "It'll be okay Zo, don't worry", she says, squeezing my hand. I was 17 and naked from the waist upwards with a gown protecting my modesty. It was a terrifying time but everything was unknown and no one knew what was wrong with me and I didn't realise at the time that it's sometimes easier than knowing the truth. I had an echo-cardiogram for the first time. It's like an ultrasound on your heart. I could hear my heart pumping away, faster than I'd ever heard it. "Just think Zo, the next time you'll be having an ultrasound, it'll probably be for a baby", my sister said and we both laughed. How wrong we were.
"Everything looks okay structure wise, I think it might be an electrical problem with your heart", the nurse told me. I had no idea what she meant but I'd soon learn and I'd know it all too well.
Present Day
"Lay on your back for me. This won't hurt but it will feel cold...but I'm sure you've heard this before", the nurse tells me as I lay down for what feels like the thousandth time in a cardiology assessment unit. I look to my left and no one's there, I'm used to these tests now. I stare at the wall silently, waiting for it to be over. I'm 23 and naked from the waist upwards with a gown half on and half off; too many hospital staff have seen me half naked now for me to feel embarrassed at all. I know everything now. I know this will probably never go away. I know this is a part of me now and I know every single finer detail about it. I hear my heart pumping fast, as usual. "Wow, you have a really high resting heart rate, that must be exhausting for you", the nurse says. I smile at her politely and look to the ground, "It is". I think of the time my sister told me that the next time I had this would be when I was pregnant; I laugh to myself. Being pregnant is a forgotten dream for me, something I've gotten used to over the years. "There's no structural abnormalities, it still seems to be an electrical issue but I'm sure you know that", the nurse tells me. I know what she means, I've learned it all over the years and I know it all too well.
"Just lay on your back for me, this won't hurt a bit, will just feel a little cold, we just want to see if there's anything going on in there", the nurse tells me as I lay down for the first time in a cardiology assessment unit. I look to my left and my sister's holding my hand and smiling at me. "It'll be okay Zo, don't worry", she says, squeezing my hand. I was 17 and naked from the waist upwards with a gown protecting my modesty. It was a terrifying time but everything was unknown and no one knew what was wrong with me and I didn't realise at the time that it's sometimes easier than knowing the truth. I had an echo-cardiogram for the first time. It's like an ultrasound on your heart. I could hear my heart pumping away, faster than I'd ever heard it. "Just think Zo, the next time you'll be having an ultrasound, it'll probably be for a baby", my sister said and we both laughed. How wrong we were.
"Everything looks okay structure wise, I think it might be an electrical problem with your heart", the nurse told me. I had no idea what she meant but I'd soon learn and I'd know it all too well.
Present Day
"Lay on your back for me. This won't hurt but it will feel cold...but I'm sure you've heard this before", the nurse tells me as I lay down for what feels like the thousandth time in a cardiology assessment unit. I look to my left and no one's there, I'm used to these tests now. I stare at the wall silently, waiting for it to be over. I'm 23 and naked from the waist upwards with a gown half on and half off; too many hospital staff have seen me half naked now for me to feel embarrassed at all. I know everything now. I know this will probably never go away. I know this is a part of me now and I know every single finer detail about it. I hear my heart pumping fast, as usual. "Wow, you have a really high resting heart rate, that must be exhausting for you", the nurse says. I smile at her politely and look to the ground, "It is". I think of the time my sister told me that the next time I had this would be when I was pregnant; I laugh to myself. Being pregnant is a forgotten dream for me, something I've gotten used to over the years. "There's no structural abnormalities, it still seems to be an electrical issue but I'm sure you know that", the nurse tells me. I know what she means, I've learned it all over the years and I know it all too well.
Between the Raven and the Dove Review
Monday, 22 May 2017
Between the Raven and the DoveRating: 5/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Early copy courtesy of Accent YA (released 25th May 2017)
For as long as she can remember, thirteen-year-old Mag has lived with her father at a home for the mentally ill.
The patients are all clearly mad, so when the usually silent Grace claims that she's Mag's real mother and also a witch, Mag's world is turned upside down.
As things take a turn for the weird, and Mag sees things that others can't, it may just be that she is a witch after all.
In this new world, Mag discovers that the difference between good and evil isn't exactly black and white...
This Time Next Year | TAG
Friday, 19 May 2017
THE RULES
-Thank the person who tagged you
-Set yourself some goals for the next year
-Explain how you’re going to achieve these goals
-Tag at least five of your blogger friends
-And finally in a years time, 365 days write a post reflecting on your goals and what you managed to achieve.
Thirteen Reasons Why Review
Tuesday, 16 May 2017
Thirteen Reasons Why
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy via Amazon
You can't stop the future. You can't rewind the past. The only way to learn the secret . . . is to press play.
Clay Jensen comes home from school to find outside his front door a mysterious box with his name on it. Inside he discovers a series of cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker - his classmate and crush. Only, she committed suicide two weeks earlier. On the first tape, Hannah explains that there are 13 reasons why she did what she did - and Clay is one of them. If he listens, Clay will find out how he got onto the list - what he hears will change his life forever.
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy via Amazon
You can't stop the future. You can't rewind the past. The only way to learn the secret . . . is to press play.
Clay Jensen comes home from school to find outside his front door a mysterious box with his name on it. Inside he discovers a series of cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker - his classmate and crush. Only, she committed suicide two weeks earlier. On the first tape, Hannah explains that there are 13 reasons why she did what she did - and Clay is one of them. If he listens, Clay will find out how he got onto the list - what he hears will change his life forever.
What We Once Were
The years just keep slipping away,
It'a getting harder and harder to know what to say,
I told you I was married, said I'd left home,
Still no reply, still staring at my phone.
Not only a woman, but now a wife,
Still no sign of you coming back in my life,
I'm ill, I'm sick, almost wheelchair-bound,
Where are you now? Nowhere to be found.
I love you, I miss you, of course I do,
You thought I didn't need you, cause I found someone new,
You were used to me there, I was used to it too,
I think you forget that, life changed for me too.
I tried for a while and the tears, they did fall,
Other people got involved so you didn't call,
I wasn't like them and for me, that was okay,
But it wasn't for you, so you pushed me away.
We probably won't speak, but you're still part of my world,
I'm a married woman now, but still your little girl.
Life got in the way, I understand,
But I still have big dreams, still have big plans,
And I will achieve them, you wait and see,
If you were still around, you'd be proud of me.
The ramblings of me at 8am on a Tuesday morning. Not the most light-hearted poem but writing most definitely makes me feel better. I'm doing a lot of spontaneous posts at the moment, that aren't necessarily book-related; I hope you're enjoying them.
Zoe x
A Monster Calls: Mental Health Awareness Week
Sunday, 14 May 2017
I did a review on my YouTube of A Monster Calls last year and if you watched it, you'll know how much that book affected me. This isn't a scheduled post today, like so many of my others are. I just finished watching the film adaptation of A Monster Calls and I just had to do a post about it because of the feelings it evoked in me.
My Beautiful Struggle Review
Friday, 12 May 2017
My Beautiful Struggle
Rating: 5/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy via Amazon
Aged 15, Jordan was a happy-go-lucky girl; having fun with friends and loving life. In one fateful moment, everything changed. A car accident left her paralysed from the chest down and shocked her into deep depression. She was on the brink of giving up. But gradually Jordan realised there is hope beyond utter devastation, and life beyond disability.
Painstakingly re-learning how to apply her beloved make-up, Jordan began to rebuild her sense of self and empowerment. Her body may have been broken but her spirit was not. She is now a successful beauty blogger and her journey of positivity inspires millions around the world.
MY BEAUTIFUL STRUGGLE is the incredible true story of how one young woman overcame immense challenges, of inner strength that lies beneath outer beauty, of how to believe in yourself and find the light when it feels like all hope is gone.
Rating: 5/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy via Amazon
Aged 15, Jordan was a happy-go-lucky girl; having fun with friends and loving life. In one fateful moment, everything changed. A car accident left her paralysed from the chest down and shocked her into deep depression. She was on the brink of giving up. But gradually Jordan realised there is hope beyond utter devastation, and life beyond disability.
Painstakingly re-learning how to apply her beloved make-up, Jordan began to rebuild her sense of self and empowerment. Her body may have been broken but her spirit was not. She is now a successful beauty blogger and her journey of positivity inspires millions around the world.
MY BEAUTIFUL STRUGGLE is the incredible true story of how one young woman overcame immense challenges, of inner strength that lies beneath outer beauty, of how to believe in yourself and find the light when it feels like all hope is gone.
WHAT IS POTS?
Tuesday, 9 May 2017
REVIEW: Blogging/Vlogging Planners
Wednesday, 3 May 2017
I think any blogger/vlogger will agree: stationery is a big part of your life. So what better way to get motivated than using planners for your ideas. I love a good planner and I discovered both of these via Twitter. If you would like to buy either of these, you can find The Ultimate Blog Planner (£12.50) at dotcreates and The YouTube Video Planner (£7.99) at TContentCreator.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)





