Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan

This tells of Darren Shan and his best friend Steve ‘Leopard’ as they visit an illegal freak show, where an encounter with a vampire and a deadly spider forces them to make life changing choices that neither of them thought possible. 

I love this book. Darren Shan is such a good writer. I don’t read many vampire books, but I love this one. Darren Shan (the character, not the author) is brilliant. You can’t help but fall in love with him and his friends. I would definitely recommend it and I hope you enjoy it. 

Links to book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_i_1_7?k=cirque+du+freak&sprefix=cirque+

http://www.bookdepository.com/Cirque-du-Freak-the-Sag-of-Darren-Shan-Book-1-Darren-Shan/9780006754169?ref=grid-view

http://www.easons.com/p-1108-cirque-du-freak.aspx

So you like Harry Potter

Sorry about the title. I thought I may do one of those if you like this book then you may like this one. Hence the title. 

I may mentioned before that Harry Potter was the series that got me into reading. So it will always have a special place in my heart (corny I know, sorry). 

Now what I might do is recommend books for those of all ages. For those that love Harry Potter, books that I would always go for would be books such as The Chronicles of Narnia, Percy Jackson, His Dark Materials and Sabriel. 

For older audiences, books that I would go for would The Name of the Wind, The Black Magician series, The Wheel of Time, The Ballad of Sir Benfro,Alex Verus and Discworld. And of course no list would be complete without the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit. 

Some of these, such as the Chronicles of Narina and His Dark Materials, in my eyes classics. And books that everyone should read. They also have elements of magic in them, which adds to the story. 

Now for those who want to read something other than fanasty but has that spark in it, this gets a bit more interesting. I would go for the likes of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Fault in Our Stars, Noughts and Crosses and To Kill A Mockingbird. These have all the non magical elements of Harry Potter and his friends. 

If there is anything that you think I missed, let me know. I am sure I am missing loads. Or there may be books that I may have not have read that you have. Either way let me know. 

The Golden Cage by James Oswald

This is the third book in the Ballad of Sir Benfro. It tells of Queen Beulah, who is determined to have her war, dispatching Inquisitor Melyn north, through the ancient forest to cross unseen into the land of her enemies. Battling the ever growing influence of Magog, Benfro struggles to resist the treacherous orders of the long dead Dragon Mage, a task made yet more difficult by the arrival of Errol in his forest refuge. His body broken, Errol is tormented by dreams of his beloved Martha, imprisoned in a Golden Cage. He has escaped from King Ballah’s torture chamber but remains powerless to help her. Yet fate has united these two. Errol holds the key to halting Magog’s influence, and Benfro has the skill to heal broken bones. Working together they might survive. Apart, they will surely perish, all Gwlad with them. 

This series gets better and better. I love everything about it. Queen Beulah seems to get eviler the more you read it. However, I really love the new friendship between Errol and Benfro. One of the great things about this is that the story deepens and makes you want to know more. I would definitely recommend it and I hope you enjoy it. 

Links to book: 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?k=the+golden+cage

http://www.bookdepository.com/The-Golden-Cage-The-Ballad-of-Sir-Benfro-Book-3-JD-Oswald/9781405917735?ref=grid-view

http://www.easons.com/p-3298372-the-golden-cage.aspx

Goodnight Beautiful by Dorothy Koomson

Nova will do anything for her closest friend, Mal, whom she has known since childhood. So when Mal and his wife, Stephanie, ask Nova to be a surrogate mother, she agrees – despite her reservations about what it might mean for their friendship. Then Nova’s fears are realised. Halfway through the pregnancy, Stephanie finds a text from her husband to Nova that reads ‘Goodnight, beautiful’. Already suspicious of their deep connection, Stephanie demands that Mal cuts all ties to Nova and their unborn baby, leaving Nova to raise the child alone. Eight years later, Nova is anxiously waiting for her son, Leo, to come out of a coma, while childless Stephanie is desperately trying to save her failing marriage. Despite her anger and hurt, Nova wants Mal to have the chance to know his son before it’s too late. Will it take a tragedy to remind them all how much they mean to each other? 

So I really enjoyed this book. I did have one or two issues with it though. One was Stephanie. Ok so, she had a few issues but that didn’t mean that she had to take it out on Mal and Nova. Either you trust someone or you don’t, it’s that simple. Ok so maybe that’s a simplistic way of looking at things but why be with someone if your not going to trust them. Mal and Nova may had a deep connection, buts because they were kinda meant to be together and THEY HAVE KNOW EACH OTHER SINCE THEY WERE KIDS. Sorry that kinda bugged me about her. It does seem a shame that Mal and Nova never actually got together. It’s one of those things where I think they felt because of their friendship, they didn’t want to ruin anything and I do get it. Ah well. Apart from that it is a really enjoyable book. I would definitely recommend it and I hope you enjoy it. 

Links to book: 

http://www.easons.com/p-9978-goodnight-beautiful.aspx

http://www.bookdepository.com/Goodnight-Beautiful-Dorothy-Koomson/9780751539813?ref=grid-view

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_i_1_13?k=goodnight+beautiful&sprefix=goodnight+bea

Under the Hawthorn Tree by Martia Conlon-McKenna

During the Great Famine in Ireland in the 1840s, three children are left alone and in danger of being sent to the workhouse, so they set out to find the great-aunts they remember from their mother’s stories. 

This is one of those books that everyone should read. In my opinion, it is a classic. I love everything about it, the story, the characters, everything. Martia Conlon McKenna is an amazing writer, who gets you to really care about what happens next. I would definitely recommend it and I hope you enjoy it. 

Links to book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_i_0_13?k=under+the+hawthorn+tree&sprefix=under+the+haw

http://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=under%20the%20hawthorn%20tree&search=Find+book

http://www.easons.com/p-11659-under-the-hawthorn-tree.aspx

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter thinks he is an ordinary boy – until he is rescued by an owl, taken to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, learns to play Quidditich and dies battle in a deadly duel. The reason – Harry Potter IS A WIZARD. 

I don’t know if you know this but I am completely in love with this book/series.(I am sure it hasn’t come across at all 😂) Harry Potter is the book that got me into reading. It is a magical read with amazing characters. I love this book. I would definitely recommend it and I hope you enjoy it. 

Link to book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_i_0_16?k=harry+potter+abd+the+philosophers+stone&sprefix=harry+potter+abd

http://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=harry%20potter%20and%20the%20philosopher%27s%20stone&search=Find+book

http://www.easons.com/search/go#w=harry%20potter%20and%20the%20philosophers%20stone

The Rose Cord by James Oswald

Fleeing the vengeful Inquisitir Melyn, Sir Benfro is drawn to the last resting place of a great dragon, Magog, deep in the ancient forest. Through Magog’s spirit, Benfro discovers the true nature of his forebears – a history of unimaginable power and mystery over mankind. But with this knowledge comes terrible danger. Errol Ramsbottom’s dreams of becoming a great Warrior Priest have been shattered by his discovery of the dark secret of the Holy Order’s power. And yet as a chosen noviciate he is trapped, unwillingly drawn deeper into the sinister plans for war which will engulf Gerald. With the forces of magic gathering so the destinies of Errol and Sir Benfro further entwine. 

This is the second book of Sir Benfro and it just gets better. I love the world of Errol and Benfro. They are amazing. It is captivating and a joy to read. It does drag a bit in parts (I know a bit contradictory, but read and you’ll understand) but it is so worth reading. I absolutely love everything about it. I would definitely recommend it and I hope you enjoy it. 

Links to book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?k=the+rose+cord

http://www.bookdepository.com/The-Rose-Cord-JD-Oswald/9781405917698?ref=grid-view

http://www.easons.com/search/go#w=The%20Rose%20cord

I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai

When the Tablian took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, one girl spoke out. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for right to an education. On Tuesday October 9th 2012, when she was fifteen, she almost paid the ultimate price. She was shot in the head at point blank range while riding the bus home from school, and few expected Ger to survive. Instead, Malala’s miraculous recovery has taken her on an extraordinary journey from a remote village in northern Pakistan I the halls of the U.N in New York. At sixteen, she became a global symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest nominee ever for the nobel. 

This is such a good book. Malala Yousafzai is such an inspiration. She has become one of my heroes, and I don’t use that word lightly. This book makes me glad that I live in a country where I can get an education, even though I am a girl. The first half of the book, Malala mixes her own background with that of her country. I have to admit this bit drags a little. It’s still very interesting to read though. The second half, she describes what happened to her. This bit reads easier, for some reason. I think it’s because she makes it about her and what happened to her. I really enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend it and I hope you enjoy it. 

Links to book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_i_0_7?k=i+am+malala&sprefix=i+am+ma

http://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=i%20am%20malala&search=Find+book

http://www.easons.com/search/go#w=i%20am%20malala

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Choose: a quick death .. or slow poison.. About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She’ll eat the best meals, have rooms to b the palace- and risk assissination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia. And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterly’s Dust – and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonising death from the poison. As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keeps mounting rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can’t control. Her life threaten again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren’t so clear. 

I absolutely love this book.  Maria V. Snyder is a brilliant writer, who writes such excellent characters. I love Yelena and everything about her and those around her. It is also one of those books that makes you want to keep reading. I would definitely recommend it and I hope you enjoy it. 

Links to book: 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_i_0_9?k=posion+study&sprefix=posion+st

http://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=posion%20study&search=Find+book

http://www.easons.com/search/go#?p=Q&ts=ajax&w=poison%20Study&pw=POsion%20Study&rt=spelling&isort=score&view=grid

The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seirstad

In spring 2002, following the fall of the Taliban, Asne Seierstasd spent four months living with a bookseller and his family in Kubal. For more than twenty years Sultan Khan defied the authorities- be they communist or Taliban – to supply books to the people of Kabul. He was arrested, interrogated and imprisioned by the communists and watched illiterate Taliban soldiers burn piles of his books in the street. He even resorted to hiding most of his stock – almost ten thousand books – in attics all over Kabul. But while Khan is passionate in his love of books and his hatred of censorship, he also has strict views on family life and the role of women. As an outsider, Asne Seierstad found herself in a unique position, able to move freely between the private, restricted sphere of the women – including Khan’s two wives – and the freer, more public lives of the men. It is an experience that Seierstad finds both frustrating and fascinating. As she steps back from the page and allows the Khans to speak for themselves, we learn of proposals and marriages, hope and fear, crime and punishment. 

To be honest, this is one of the few books that I didn’t finish. And it is one, in theory, that I should have liked. I really like the idea, but the problem is that I got the impression that Asne Seierstad didn’t particularly like Sultan Khan and as a result, he came across as really unlikeable. It seemed to me that she was painting the entire family due to its county or one person. Maybe it’s just me. I would definitely recommend it but with a grain of salt. 

Links to book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_i_0_10?k=the+bookseller+of+kabul&sprefix=the+bookse

http://www.bookdepository.com/The-Bookseller-of-Kabul-Asne-Seierstad/9781844080472?ref=grid-view

http://www.easons.com/search/go#w=Bookseller%20of%20Kabul